Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical data, this discussion contains forward-looking statements about our business, operations and financial performance based on current expectations that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those in this discussion as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed in Part I - Item 1A Risk Factors, in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
This section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K generally discusses 2024 and 2023 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2024 and 2023. Discussions of 2022 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2023 and 2022 that are not included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Our Company
Granite Point Mortgage Trust Inc. is an internally-managed real estate finance company that focuses primarily on directly originating, investing in and managing senior floating-rate commercial mortgage loans and other debt and debt-like commercial real estate investments. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “GPMT”. Our investment objective is to preserve our stockholders’ capital while generating attractive risk-adjusted returns over the long term, primarily through dividends derived from current income produced by our investment portfolio. We operate as a REIT, as defined under the Code. We also operate our business in a manner intended to maintain our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act. We operate our business as one segment.
Recent Developments
Macroeconomic Environment
The year ended December 31, 2024, was characterized by continued volatility in the global securities markets, driven by investor concerns over inflation, elevated interest rates, escalating trade tensions, slowing economic growth, political and regulatory uncertainty and geopolitical conditions. Events affecting financial institutions during the year also contributed to volatility in global markets and diminished liquidity and credit availability.
Interest rates remain at an elevated level and the timing, direction and extent of any future interest rate changes remain uncertain. Although our business model is such that higher interest rates should, all else being equal, generally correlate to higher net income, interest rates having remained elevated for an extended period of time have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, our existing borrowers and the cost of financing their properties and lead to non-performance. Additionally, higher interest rates and increasing costs may dampen consumer spending and slow corporate profit growth, which may negatively impact the collateral underlying certain of our loans. Higher interest rates have adversely impacted, and may continue to adversely impact, commercial real estate property values. It remains difficult to predict the full impact on macroeconomic conditions and our business of recent events and any future changes in interest rates or inflation.
Office Property Market
The office property market has been experiencing higher vacancies, slower leasing activity and various tenants re-evaluating their need for space due in large part to remote and hybrid work arrangements. These factors coupled with inflation, elevated interest rates and limited market liquidity have created a high level of uncertainty with respect to property values. These dynamics have stressed certain borrowers’ ability and willingness to support their properties and perform in accordance with the terms of their loans. Given this uncertainty, it remains difficult to predict the effect these challenging conditions may have on the office property market, our borrowers, their performance under the terms of our loans secured by office properties and our financial results.
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2024 Activity
Operating Results:
•Recognized GAAP net (loss) attributable to common stockholders of $(221.5) million, or $(4.39) per basic common share.
•Generated Distributable Earnings (Loss) to common stockholders of $(143.9) million, or $(2.85) per basic common share, which includes $(146.3) million in write-offs and $8.8 million in recoveries of amounts previously written off, and excludes the $(201.4) million in provision for credit losses, $(6.6) million of non-cash equity compensation expense and $(6.3) million of non-cash depreciation and amortization on REO.
•Generated Distributable Earnings (Loss) Before Realized Gains and Losses to common stockholders of $(6.4) million, or $(0.13) per basic common share.
•Recorded an increase to the allowance for credit losses of $63.9 million, for a total allowance of credit losses of $201.0 million, or approximately 9.2% of total loan commitments of $2.2 billion at December 31, 2024.
•Book value per share of common stock at December 31, 2024, was $8.47, inclusive of $(4.12) per basic common share of total CECL reserve.
•Declared common stock dividends of $16.1 million, or $0.30 per basic common share, and preferred dividends of $14.4 million, or $1.75 per share of Series A Preferred Stock.
Investment Portfolio Activity:
•Funded $57.1 million of prior loan commitments and upsizes.
•Resolved a nonaccrual $93.7 million loan secured by a mixed-use office and retail property located in New York, NY, through a loan assumption to a third-party borrower, resulting in a new loan for GAAP purposes with an unpaid principal balance, or UPB, of $48.0 million.
•Realized $(727.1) million of total UPB in loan repayments, principal paydowns, principal amortization, cost recovery, sales, resolutions and write-offs.
•Acquired as REO through a negotiated transaction an office property with a carrying value at closing of $35.7 million.
•Maintained a portfolio of 54 loan investments with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $2.1 billion and total commitments of $2.2 billion, a weighted average stabilized LTV at origination of 64.4%, and a weighted average all-in yield at origination of Standard Overnight Financing Rate, or SOFR, of S+4.01%.
Portfolio Financing Activity:
•Extended the Morgan Stanley financing facility to June 28, 2025, and adjusted the facility’s maximum borrowing capacity to $250 million.
•Elected to not renew the Goldman Sachs financing facility on its scheduled maturity.
•Terminated the Centennial Bank financing facility.
•Extended the Additional Advance Termination Date of the JPMorgan financing facility to October 12, 2025 (with a Company-held option to extend the Additional Advance Termination Date to April 12, 2026).
Corporate Financing Activity:
•Repurchased 2,392,671 shares of common stock at a weighted average purchase price of $3.16 for an aggregate purchase amount of $7.6 million.
Liquidity:
•At December 31, 2024, carried unrestricted cash of $87.8 million, a portion of which is subject to certain liquidity covenants, and restricted cash of $26.7 million.
Key Financial Measures and Indicators
As a commercial real estate finance company, we believe the key financial measures and indicators for our business are earnings per share presented on a GAAP basis, dividends declared on common stock, Distributable Earnings and book value per share of common stock. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we recorded a GAAP net (loss) per basic common share of $(4.39), declared a cash dividend of $0.30 per share of common stock and reported Distributable (loss) of $(2.85) per basic common share. Our book value as of December 31, 2024, was $8.47 per share of common stock, inclusive of $(4.12) per share of total CECL reserves.
As further described below, Distributable Earnings is a “non-GAAP financial measure.” We use Distributable Earnings to evaluate our performance, excluding the effects of certain transactions and GAAP adjustments that we believe are not necessarily indicative of our current loan portfolio and operations. In addition, Distributable Earnings is a performance metric we consider, along with other measures, when declaring our common stock dividends.
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(Loss) Earnings Per Share and Dividends Declared Per Common Share
The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share and dividends declared per share for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023:
Year Ended
December 31,
(in thousands, except share data) 2024 2023
Net (loss) attributable to common stockholders $ (221,452) $ (77,649)
Basic (loss) per weighted average common share $ (4.39) $ (1.50)
Diluted (loss) per weighted average common share $ (4.39) $ (1.50)
Dividend declared per common share $ 0.30 $ 0.80
Distributable Earnings (Loss)
In order to maintain our status as a REIT, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to stockholders, subject to certain distribution requirements. Distributable Earnings (Loss) is intended to over time serve as a general, though imperfect, proxy for our taxable income. As such, Distributable Earnings (Loss) is considered a key indicator of our ability to generate sufficient income to pay dividends on our common stock, which is the primary focus of income-oriented investors who comprise a meaningful segment of our stockholder base. We believe providing Distributable Earnings (Loss) on a supplemental basis to our net income (loss) and cash flow from operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP, is helpful to stockholders in assessing the overall operating performance of our business.
For reporting purposes, we define Distributable Earnings (Loss) as net income (loss) attributable to our stockholders, computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding: (i) non-cash equity compensation expenses; (ii) depreciation and amortization; (iii) any unrealized gains (losses) or other similar non-cash items that are included in net income (loss) for the applicable reporting period (regardless of whether such items are included in other comprehensive income or in net income (loss) for such period); and (iv) certain non-cash items and one-time expenses. Distributable Earnings (Loss) may also be adjusted from time to time for reporting purposes to exclude one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain other material non-cash income or expense items approved by a majority of our independent directors. The exclusion of depreciation and amortization from the calculation of Distributable Earnings (Loss) only applies to debt investments related to real estate to the extent we foreclose upon the property or properties underlying such debt investments.
While Distributable Earnings (Loss) excludes the impact of the unrealized non-cash current provision for credit losses, we expect to only recognize such potential credit losses in Distributable Earnings (Loss) if and when such amounts are deemed non-recoverable. This is generally at the time a loan is repaid, or in the case of foreclosure, when the underlying asset is sold, but non-recoverability may also be concluded if, in our determination, it is nearly certain that all amounts due will not be collected. The realized loss amount reflected in Distributable Earnings (Loss) will equal the difference between the cash received, or expected to be received, and the carrying value of the asset, and is reflective of our economic experience as it relates to the ultimate realization of the loan. During the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, we recorded a provision for credit losses of $(201.4) million and $(104.8) million, respectively, which has been excluded from Distributable Earnings (Loss), consistent with other unrealized gains (losses) and other non-cash items pursuant to our existing policy for reporting Distributable Earnings (Loss) referenced above. During the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, we recorded $(6.3) million and $(3.4) million, respectively, in depreciation and amortization on REO and related intangibles, which has been excluded from Distributable Earnings (Loss) consistent with other unrealized gains (losses) and other non-cash items pursuant to our existing policy for reporting Distributable Earnings (Loss) referenced above.
Distributable Earnings (Loss) does not represent GAAP net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders or cash flow from operating activities and should not be considered as an alternative to GAAP net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, or an indication of our GAAP cash flows from operations, a measure of our liquidity, or an indication of funds available for our cash needs. In addition, our methodology for calculating Distributable Earnings (Loss) may differ from the methodologies employed by other companies to calculate the same or similar supplemental performance measures, and, accordingly, our reported Distributable Earnings (Loss) may not be comparable to the Distributable Earnings (Loss) reported by other companies.
We believe it is useful to our stockholders to present Distributable Earnings (Loss) Before Realized Gains and Losses, a non-GAAP measure, to reflect our run-rate operating results as (i) our operating results are mainly comprised of net interest income earned on our loan investments net of our operating expenses, which comprise our ongoing operations, (ii) it helps our stockholders in assessing the overall run-rate operating performance of our business, and (iii) it has been a useful reference related to our common dividend as it is one of the factors we and our Board of Directors consider when declaring the dividend. We believe that our stockholders use Distributable Earnings (Loss) and Distributable Earnings (Loss) Before Realized Gains
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and Losses, or a comparable supplemental performance measure, to evaluate and compare the performance of our company and our peers.
The following table provides a reconciliation of GAAP net (loss) attributable to common stockholders to Distributable Earnings (Loss) Before Realized Gains and Losses and Distributable Earnings (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023:
Year Ended
December 31,
(in thousands, except share data) 2024 2023
Reconciliation of GAAP net (loss) income to Distributable Earnings (Loss):
Adjustments:
Realized losses on sales — —
Depreciation and amortization on real estate owned 6,280 3,375
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt 786 (238)
Realized losses on write-offs, loan sales and REO conversions (146,318) (54,274)
Recoveries of previous write-offs 8,819 —
Distributable Earnings (Loss) per basic share of common stock $ (2.85) $ (0.33)
Book Value Per Common Share
The following table provides the calculation of our book value per share of common stock as of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023:
(in thousands, except share data) December 31,2024 December 31,2023
Total Granite Point Mortgage Trust Inc. Stockholders’ Equity $ 619,092 $ 858,898
Shares:
Book value per share of common stock $ 8.47 $ 12.91
Book value per share as of December 31, 2024, includes the impact of an estimated allowance for credit losses of $201.0 million, or $(4.12) per common share. See Note 3 – Loans Held-for-Investment, Net of Allowance for Credit Losses to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a detailed discussion of allowance for credit losses.
Loan Portfolio Overview
Our business model is mainly focused on directly originating, investing in and managing senior floating-rate commercial mortgage loans and other debt and debt-like commercial real estate investments. As a result of this strategy, our operating performance is subject to overall market demand for commercial real estate loan products and other debt and debt-like commercial real estate investments. We place emphasis on diversifying our investment portfolio across geographical regions
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and local markets, property types, borrowers and loan structures. We do not limit our loan originations by geographical area or property type so that we may develop a well-diversified investment portfolio.
Interest-earning assets include our 100% loan investment portfolio. At December 31, 2024, our loan portfolio was comprised of 54 investments, of which 53 were senior first mortgage loans totaling $2.2 billion of commitments with an unpaid principal balance of $2.1 billion, and one subordinated loan totaling $13.2 million in commitments and unpaid principal balance. At December 31, 2024, the weighted average risk rating of our loan portfolio was 3.1 as compared to 2.8 at December 31, 2023, weighted by total unpaid principal balance.
We may hold REO as a result of taking title to a loan’s collateral. As of December 31, 2024, we owned two office properties with an aggregate carrying value of $52.4 million, inclusive of $9.8 million of intangible assets included in other assets and $(0.2) million of other liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we funded $57.1 million under existing loan commitments and loan upsizes. We realized $727.1 million in aggregate reductions in portfolio unpaid principal balance from loan repayments, paydowns, amortization and resolutions. See Note 3 - Loans Held-for-Investment, Net of Allowance for Credit Losses to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further detail.
The following table details our loan activity by unpaid principal balance for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023:
Year Ended December 31,
Deferred interest capitalized 1,114 3,466
______________________
(1)Includes the $48.0 million loan assumption accounted for as a new loan under GAAP.
(2)Additional fundings made under existing loan commitments and upsizing of loans.
The following table details overall statistics for our loan portfolio as of December 31, 2024:
(dollars in thousands)
Loan Portfolio Summary
Number of loans 54
Unpaid principal balance $ 2,106,334
Unfunded loan commitments $ 90,641
Weighted-average cash coupon(1) S+3.77%
Weighted-average all-in yield(2) S+4.01%
Stabilized LTV(3) 64.4 %
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(1)Cash coupon does not include origination or exit fees. Weighted average cash coupon excludes fixed rate loans and impact of loans placed on nonaccrual status.
(2)Yield includes net origination fees and exit fees, but does not include future fundings, and is expressed as a monthly equivalent. Weighted average yield excludes fixed rate loans and impact of loans on nonaccrual status.
(3)Stabilized loan-to-value ratio at origination, or stabilized LTV, is calculated as the fully funded loan amount (plus any financing that is pari passu with or senior to such loan), including all contractually provided for future fundings, divided by the as stabilized value (as determined in conformance with USPAP) set forth in the original appraisal. As stabilized value may be based on certain assumptions, such as future construction completion, projected re-tenanting, payment of tenant improvement or leasing commissions allowances or free or abated rent periods, or increased tenant occupancies.
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The following table provides detail of our loan portfolio as of December 31, 2024:
(dollars in millions)
Loans Held-For-Investment
Allowance for credit losses (199.7)
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(1)“Senior” means a loan primarily secured by a first priority lien on commercial real property and related personal property and also includes, when applicable, any companion subordinate loans.
(2)Cash coupon does not include origination or exit fees. Weighted average cash coupon excludes fixed rate loans and impact of loans placed on nonaccrual status.
(3)Yield includes net origination fees and exit fees, but does not include future fundings, and is expressed as a monthly equivalent. Weighted average yield excludes fixed rate loans and impact of loans placed on nonaccrual status.
(4)Original term (years) is the initial maturity date at origination and does not include any extension options and has not been updated to reflect any subsequent extensions or modifications, if applicable.
(5)Initial loan-to-value ratio, or initial LTV at origination, is calculated as the initial loan amount (plus any financing that is pari passu with or senior to such loan) divided by the as is appraised value (as determined in conformance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, or USPAP) as of the date of the loan was originated set forth in the original appraisal.
(6)Stabilized LTV is calculated as the fully funded loan amount (plus any financing that is pari passu with or senior to such loan), including all contractually provided for future fundings, divided by the as stabilized value (as determined in conformance with USPAP) set forth in the original appraisal. As stabilized value may be based on certain assumptions, such as future construction completion, projected re-tenanting, payment of tenant improvement or leasing commissions allowances or free or abated rent periods, or increased tenant occupancies.
(7)Loan was held on nonaccrual status as of December 31, 2024.
(8)During the year ended December 31, 2024, we completed a modification that included an adjustment in rate to a fixed rate coupon rate of 5.75%, adjusted from a floating rate coupon of S+3.40%.
(9)As of December 31, 2024, the loan was in maturity default with a maturity date of December 9, 2024. Subsequent to December 31, 2024, the loan extended from December 9, 2024 to December 9, 2025.
(10)Appraisal value was equal to the unpaid principal balance at the time of the loan assumption in November 2024, resulting in an initial LTV of 100%.
Most of our loans are structured with an initial maturity term, typically three years, and one or more (typically two) one-year extension options, which can be exercised by the borrower subject to meeting various extension conditions in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement. As part of our overall asset management strategy, we have in the past entered into, and may in the future enter into, loan modifications with some of our borrowers. These amendments may include, among other things, modifying or waiving certain performance or extension conditions as part of the overall agreement.
Portfolio Management and Credit Quality
We actively manage each loan investment from closing and initial funding through final repayment and assess the risk of credit deterioration by quarterly evaluating the performance of the underlying collateral properties. We also evaluate the macroeconomic environment, prevailing real estate fundamentals and local property market dynamics. Typically, our loan documents allow us, among other things, to receive regular property, borrower and guarantor financial statements; approve annual budgets and major tenant leases; and enforce loan covenants and remedies. In addition, we work with a leading commercial real estate loan servicer, which provides us with a fully-dedicated and experienced team to increase efficiency and leverage our internal resources in servicing and asset managing our loan investments. Our internal team retains authority on all asset management decisions.
We maintain strong relationships and an active asset management dialogue with our borrowers. We have leveraged those relationships along with our team’s experience to maximize the performance of our portfolio, including during periods of real estate market and economic uncertainty and volatility. While we generally believe that the principal amount of our loans is sufficiently protected by the underlying collateral value, there is a risk that we will not realize the entire principal amount of certain of our loan investments.
In addition to ongoing asset management, we review our entire portfolio quarterly, assess the performance of each loan and assign it a risk rating on a scale between “1” and “5,” from least risk to greatest risk, respectively. The risk ratings are based on many factors, which include, but are not limited to, property type, geographic and local market dynamics, physical condition, leasing and tenant profile, projected cash flow, collateral performance, loan structure and exit plan, origination LTV, project sponsorship and other factors deemed appropriate. We evaluate these factors with respect to each loan investment on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration such loan’s facts and circumstances at the time. The risk factors may be given different weightings depending on the specifics of each loan. See Note 3 - Loans Held-for-Investment, Net of Allowance for Credit Losses to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion regarding the risk rating methodology we use for our portfolio.
The following table allocates the unpaid principal balance and the carrying value balances based on our internal risk ratings as of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023:
As of December 31, 2024, the weighted average risk rating of our loan portfolio was 3.1, versus 2.8 as of December 31, 2023, weighted by unpaid principal balance. The change in the weighted average portfolio risk rating versus December, 31, 2023, is mainly a result of select loan risk rating downgrades partially offset by certain loan risk rating upgrades, repayments and resolutions of several previously risk-rated “5” loans.
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Risk-Rated “5” Loans
As of December 31, 2024, we had seven loans that had a risk rating of “5” with an aggregate principal balance of $453.3 million, for which we recorded an allowance for credit losses of $154.7 million. These seven loans were on nonaccrual status as of December 31, 2024. The performance of these assets, which include four office buildings, one mixed-use property with an office component, one hotel asset and one multifamily property, has been adversely affected to varying degrees by many factors, such as slower pace in leasing activity for office properties, related to work from home trends and other submarket dynamics, combined with a significant rise in interest rates contributing to a meaningful reduction in real estate transaction activity, capital markets volatility and limited market liquidity affecting property values and these borrowers’ ability to either sell or refinance their loans, and other property specific factors. During the year ended December 31, 2024, four of these loans were downgraded to a risk rating of “5”, including two office loans, one hotel loan, and one multifamily loan. These loans were downgraded due to the borrowers’ unwillingness to make further capital commitments to support the collateral properties resulting from a variety of factors including the challenging office leasing environment, local market fundamentals, uncertain and volatile capital market conditions resulting in limited liquidity for real estate transactions, further pressure on property values and other factors related to property specific operating performance. These loans are considered collateral dependent and have been placed on nonaccrual status as of December 31, 2024.
Other Portfolio Developments
Loan Modification Activity
Loan modifications and amendments are commonplace in the transitional lending business. We may amend or modify a loan depending on the loan’s specific facts and circumstances. These loan modifications may include additional time for the borrower to refinance or sell the collateral property, adjustment or waiver of performance tests that are prerequisite to the extension of a loan maturity, and/or deferral of scheduled payments. In exchange for a modification, we often receive a partial repayment of principal, an accrual of deferral interest for a portion of interest due, a cash infusion to replenish interest or capital improvement reserves, termination of all or a portion of the remaining unfunded loan commitment, additional call protection, and/or an increase in the loan coupon or additional loan fees.
In November 2024, we completed the modification of a first mortgage loan secured by a multifamily student housing property in Louisville, KY. As of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the loan had a principal balance of $50.0 million and $48.5 million, respectively, and an amortized cost of $49.8 million and $48.3 million, respectively. The terms of the modification included, among other things, a 12-month extension of the fully-extended maturity date to November 9, 2025, the full deferral of debt service payments with interest capitalized and compounding, the deferral of the extension fee and the agreement to pay for approved expenses, in its sole discretion. Due to the uncertainty with respect to the collection of future interest accruals, the loan was placed on nonaccrual status as of November 9, 2023 in conjunction with a previous modification. The loan was performing pursuant to its modified contractual terms as of December 31, 2024.
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, we completed the modification of a first mortgage loan secured by a mixed-use multifamily, event space and office property located in Pittsburgh, PA. As of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the loan had a principal balance of $32.0 million and $51.1 million, and an amortized cost of $30.3 million and $49.9 million, respectively. The terms of the modification included, among others, (i) a new $2.0 million capital infusion from the sponsor to further support the collateral property; (ii) a restructuring of the $51.0 million whole loan into a $32.0 million senior loan, with a $7.0 million unfunded commitment, and a $19.0 million mezzanine note. The restructured senior loan earns a fixed rate coupon rate of 5.75%, adjusted from a floating rate coupon of S+3.40%, has an exit fee that was increased from 1.25% to 5.75% of the loan amount, and was extended to July 9, 2027. The mezzanine note is non-interest bearing and is subject to a distribution waterfall and is subordinate to certain amounts of the sponsor’s equity, as defined in the loan agreement. As of September 30, 2024, the mezzanine note was deemed uncollectible, resulting in a write-off of $(19.0) million. The loan was performing pursuant to its modified contractual terms as of December 31, 2024.
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, we completed the modification of a first mortgage loan secured by a design building property located in New York, NY. As of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the loan had a principal balance of $34.3 million and $37.5 million, and an amortized cost of $32.8 million and $37.3 million, respectively. The terms of the modification included, among others, a restructuring of the $37.5 million loan at the time of the modification into (i) a $33.3 million senior loan, with $3.0 million in unfunded commitments, and (ii) a $4.2 million mezzanine note; a $2.6 million capital infusion from the sponsor to further support the collateral property; a change to the restructured senior loan’s coupon to S+3.00%, which was reduced from S+4.65%; an increase in the exit fee from 0.25% to 5.70% of the loan amount, and an extension of term to a maturity date of June 9, 2027. The mezzanine note was non-interest bearing and subject to a distribution waterfall and is subordinate to certain amounts of the sponsor’s equity, as defined in the loan agreement. As of June 30, 2024, the mezzanine note was deemed uncollectible, resulting in a write-off of $(4.2) million. The loan was performing pursuant to its modified contractual terms as of December 31, 2024.
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Portfolio Financing
As of December 31, 2024, our portfolio financing consisted of repurchase and secured credit facilities collateralized by loans held-for-investment and securitized debt obligations collateralized by pools of loans held-for-investment issued in CRE CLOs. Our non-mark-to-market financing sources accounted for approximately 59.4% of portfolio loan-level financing as of December 31, 2024.
The following table details our portfolio loan-level financing as of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023:
Secured repurchase agreement (non-mark-to-market)(1) — 6,213
Secured repurchase agreements (mark-to-market) 597,874 869,229
______________________
(1)During the three months ended June 30, 2024, we repaid all outstanding borrowings under the facility and terminated the facility.
The following table summarizes assets at carrying values that served as collateral for the future payment obligations of the repurchase facilities, the asset-specific financing facility, the term financing facility, the secured credit facility and the CRE CLOs as of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023:
Real Estate Owned, net(1) — 20,508
Restricted cash 8,018 —
______________________
(1)As of December 31, 2023, real estate owned, net included $3.6 million in other assets and liabilities related to acquired leases.
Secured Repurchase Agreements
As of December 31, 2024, we had repurchase facilities in place with three counterparties with aggregate outstanding borrowings of $0.6 billion, which financed a portion of our loans held-for-investment and real estate owned. As of December 31, 2024, the weighted average borrowing rate on our repurchase facilities was 7.8%, the weighted average advance rate was 61.7%, and the term to maturity ranged from approximately 0.4 years to approximately 0.6 years, with a weighted average remaining maturity of 0.5 years.
The table below details our secured repurchase facilities as of December 31, 2024:
Repurchase facilities:
______________________
(1)The facilities are set to mature on the stated maturity date, unless extended pursuant to their terms.
(2)Unused capacity is not committed as of December 31, 2024.
Under our existing repurchase facilities, our counterparties may make margin calls as a result of a perceived decline in the value of our assets collateralizing the given facility due to a credit event or, under a limited number of our repurchase facilities, due to market events. To cover a margin call, we may transfer cash or other collateral to such a counterparty. Should the value of our assets suddenly decrease, significant margin calls on our mark-to-market repurchase facilities could result, causing an adverse change in our liquidity position.
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Commercial Real Estate Collateralized Loan Obligations
We have financed certain pools of our loans through the issuance of CRE CLOs. At December 31, 2024, we had two CRE CLOs outstanding: GPMT 2021-FL4 and GPMT 2021-FL3, totaling $0.8 billion of outstanding borrowings, financing 30 of our existing first mortgage loan investments with an aggregate principal balance, inclusive of restricted cash, totaling $1.0 billion. As of December 31, 2024, our CRE CLOs financed 46.5% of our total loan portfolio principal balance on a term-matched, non-recourse and non-mark-to-market basis with attractive cost of funds.
The following table details our CRE CLO securitized debt obligations as of December 31, 2024:
(dollars in thousands) December 31, 2024
Total
______________________
(1)Calculations of all in yield on collateral assets at origination are based on a number of assumptions (some or all of which may not occur) and are expressed as monthly equivalent yields that include net origination fees and exit fees and exclude future fundings and any potential or completed loan amendments or modifications. Calculations of cost of funds is the weighted average coupon of the CRE CLO, exclusive of any CRE CLO issuance costs.
(2)$8.0 million restricted cash is included as of December 31, 2024. No restricted cash is included as of December 31, 2023. Yield on collateral assets is exclusive of restricted cash.
(3)No restricted cash is included as of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023. Yield on collateral assets is exclusive of restricted cash.
(4)$8.0 million restricted cash is included as of December 31, 2024. No restricted cash is included as of December 31, 2023. Yield on collateral assets is exclusive of restricted
Secured Credit Facility
In December 2022, we entered into a secured credit facility with a maximum borrowing capacity of $100.0 million. The facility had aggregate outstanding borrowings of $86.8 million as of December 31, 2024, which financed a portion of our loans held for investment on a non-mark-to-market basis. The facility matures on December 21, 2025.
The following table details the outstanding borrowings under our secured credit facility as of December 31, 2024:
(dollars in thousands) December 31, 2024
______________________
(1)Calculations of all in yield on collateral assets at origination are based on a number of assumptions (some or all of which may not occur) and are expressed as monthly equivalent yields that include net origination fees and exit fees and exclude future fundings and any potential or completed loan amendments or modifications. Calculations of all in weighted average yield at origination exclude fixed rate loans. Calculations of cost of funds is the initial weighted average coupon of the secured credit facility, exclusive of any secured credit facility issuance costs.
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Financial Covenants
We are subject to a variety of financial covenants under our secured financing arrangements. The following represent the most restrictive financial covenants to which we are subject across our secured finance arrangements:
Financial Covenant Description Value as of December 31, 2024
We were in compliance with these financial covenants as of December 31, 2024.
Leverage Ratios
As of December 31, 2024, the total debt-to-equity ratio with respect to our loans held-for-investment was 2.2:1.0, and our recourse leverage ratio was 1.0:1.0. The following table represents our recourse leverage ratio and total leverage ratio as of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023. The period-over-period increase in our leverage ratios was mainly related to a decrease in total equity balance due to higher CECL reserves recorded during the year ended December 31, 2024, which was partially offset by lower borrowings due to loan repayments and paydowns.
Recourse leverage ratio(1) 1.0 0.9
Total leverage ratio(2) 2.2 2.1
______________________
(1)The debt-to-equity ratio with respect to our loans held-for-investment, defined as recourse debt, net of cash, divided by total equity.
(2)The total debt-to-equity ratio with respect to our loans held-for-investment, defined as total debt, net of cash, divided by total equity.
Floating Rate Portfolio
Our business strategy seeks to minimize our exposure to changes in interest rates by matching benchmark indices on our assets with those on our asset level borrowings. Accordingly, our business model is such that, in general, rising interest rates will increase our net interest income, while declining interest rates will decrease our net interest income, subject to the impact of interest rate floors on our floating rate assets and certain liabilities. As of December 31, 2024, 97.9% of our loan investments by principal balance earned a floating rate of interest and were financed with liabilities that pay interest on a floating rate basis, which resulted in an amount of net floating rate exposure, subject to the impact of interest rate floors on certain of our floating rate loan investments, of $0.6 billion. As of December 31, 2024, 2.1% of our loan investments by principal balance earned a fixed rate of interest and were financed with liabilities that pay interest on a floating rate basis, which resulted in a negative correlation to elevated interest rates on that amount of our financing.
The following table details our loan portfolio’s net floating rate exposure as of December 31, 2024:
(in thousands) Net Exposure
Net floating rate exposure $ 587,066
______________________
(1)As of December 31, 2024, all of our floating rate assets and liabilities were indexed to SOFR.
(2)Includes loans on nonaccrual status as of December 31, 2024.
(3)Floating rate liabilities include our outstanding repurchase facilities, secured credit facility and CRE CLOs.
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Interest-Earning Assets and Interest-Bearing Liabilities
The following tables present the components of interest income and average annualized net asset yield earned by asset type, the components of interest expense and average annualized cost of funds on borrowings incurred by collateral type and net interest income and average annualized net interest rate spread for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023. The net asset yield reflects the impact of loans held on nonaccrual status.
Interest-earning assets(2)
Loans held-for-investment
Other - Interest on cash and cash equivalents 5,950
Total interest income $ 185,551
Interest-bearing liabilities
Borrowings collateralized by:
Loans held-for-investment
Net interest income/spread $ 35,883 (1.4) %
Interest-earning assets(2)
Loans held-for-investment
Other - Interest on cash and cash equivalents 9,002
Total interest income $ 263,735
Interest-bearing liabilities
Borrowings collateralized by:
Loans held-for-investment
Other:
Net interest income/spread $ 82,000 0.3 %
______________________
(1)Includes amortization of deferred debt issuance costs.
(2)Average balance represents average amortized cost on loans held-for-investment.
(3)Loans primarily secured by a first priority lien on commercial real property and related personal property and also includes, when applicable, any companion subordinate loans.
(4)Included in collateralized borrowings is the Centennial repurchase facility that was repaid on April 22, 2024 as shown in Note 6 - Secured Financing Agreements, which became collateralized by real estate owned on May 16, 2023. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the facility had an average balance collateralized by real estate owned of $1.8 million and $4.3 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the facility accrued interest expense of $0.2 million and $0.4 million related to the balance collateralized by real estate owned, respectively.
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Factors Affecting Our Operating Results
The results of our operations are affected by a number of factors and primarily depend on, among other things, the level of our net interest income, the availability and cost of financing for us, the market value of our assets, the credit performance of our assets and the supply of, and demand for, commercial real estate loans, other commercial real estate debt instruments and other financial assets available for investment in the market and available as a source of refinancing of our assets. Our interest income, which reflects the amortization of origination fees and direct costs, is recognized based on the contractual rate and the outstanding principal balance of the loans we originate. The objective of the interest method is to arrive at a periodic interest income that yields a level rate of return over the loan term. Interest rates vary according to the type of loan or security, conditions in the financial markets, credit-worthiness of our borrowers, competition and other factors, none of which can be predicted with any certainty. Our operating results may also be impacted by credit losses in excess of initial anticipations or unanticipated credit events experienced by our borrowers. We continue to monitor the effects on each of these factors in light of the continued volatility in global markets, driven by investor concerns over inflation, elevated interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty, and how they will affect our operating results.
Loan Originations
Our business model is mainly focused on directly originating, investing in and managing senior floating-rate commercial mortgage loans and other debt and debt-like commercial real estate investments. As a result of this strategy, our operating performance is subject to overall market demand for commercial real estate loan products and other debt and debt-like commercial real estate investments. We manage originations and acquisitions of our target investments by diversifying our investment portfolio across geographical regions, local markets, property types, borrower types and loan structures. We do not limit our investments to any number of geographical areas or property types for our originations so that we develop a well-diversified investment portfolio. Additionally, our team has extensive experience originating and acquiring commercial real estate loans and other debt and debt-like commercial real estate investments, through a network of long-standing relationships with borrowers, sponsors and industry brokers. Investor concerns over inflation, elevated interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty have resulted in significant disruptions and volatility in financial markets, uncertainty about the overall macroeconomic outlook and a dislocation in the commercial real estate sector, including reduced borrower demand, wider credit spreads, higher lending rates, increased capitalization rates on properties and significantly lower transaction volume. This dislocation in capital markets and decline in real estate sale transaction and refinancing activities have negatively impacted, and will likely continue to negatively impact, the volume of loan repayments and prepayments on select property types (which are a significant source of our overall liquidity) and the volume of our originations of new loan investments.
Financing Availability
We are subject to the availability and cost of financing to successfully execute on our business strategy and generate attractive risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders. Much of our financing is in the form of repurchase agreements or other types of credit facilities provided to us by our lender counterparties. We mitigate this counterparty risk by seeking to diversify our lending partners, focusing on establishing borrowing relationships with strong counterparties and continuously monitoring them through a thoughtful approach to counterparty risk oversight. Additionally, as part of our broader risk management strategy, and to the extent available in the market, we finance our business through other means, which may include, but are not to be limited to, securitizations, note sales and issuance of secured and unsecured debt and equity instruments. We continue to actively explore additional types of funding facilities in order to further diversify our financing sources. Investor concerns over inflation trends, elevated interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty have resulted in significant disruptions and volatility in financial markets and uncertainty about the overall macroeconomic and capital markets outlook. These conditions have negatively impacted, and may continue to negatively impact, real estate and real estate capital markets, which could make it more difficult for us to obtain or maintain financing.
We finance pools of our commercial real estate loans through CRE CLOs, retaining subordinate securities in our investment portfolio. Our CRE CLOs are accounted for as financings with the non-retained securitized debt obligations recognized on our consolidated balance sheets.
Credit Risk
We are subject to varying degrees of credit risk in connection with our target investments. The performance and value of our investments depend upon sponsors’ ability to operate the properties that serve as our collateral so that they produce cash flows adequate to pay interest and principal due to us. In addition, we are exposed to the risks generally associated with the commercial real estate market, including variances in occupancy rates, capitalization rates, absorption rates and other macroeconomic factors beyond our control such as the level of market interest rates. We try to mitigate these risks by seeking to originate or acquire assets of higher quality at appropriate rates of return given anticipated and unanticipated losses, by employing a comprehensive review and selection process and by proactively monitoring our investment portfolio. Nevertheless, unanticipated credit losses, including as a result of inflation, high interest rates, capital markets volatility and geopolitical uncertainty, could occur that could adversely impact our operating results. Volatility in market interest rates may result in fluctuations in cash flows and values of properties securing our loans. As a result, there may exist the risk of non-performance on our floating-rate loans, and in the case of a significant increase in interest rates, the cash flows of the collateral properties
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may not sufficiently cover debt service due under our loans, which may contribute to loan non-performance or, in certain cases, loan default.
The environmental, social and governance, or ESG, factors associated with our potential collateral and borrowers could also pose credit risks to us. We try to mitigate these risks by incorporating diligence practices into our investment process to identify significant ESG concerns related to a given investment. The nature and scope of our ESG diligence will vary based on the investment but may include a review of, among other things, energy management, pollution and contamination, accounting standards, bribery and corruption.
We employ a long-term, fundamental value-oriented investment strategy and we aim to, on a loan-by-loan basis, construct an investment portfolio that is well-diversified across property types, geographies and sponsors.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses, such as compensation costs and expenses related to managing our investment portfolio, may vary over time and are subject to a variety of factors, including overall economic and market environment, competitive market forces driving employee-related costs and other related factors.
Allowance for Credit Losses
Our operating results are also impacted by the allowance for credit losses we record for loans held-for-investment using the CECL methodology pursuant to ASU 2016-13.
Changes in the Fair Value of Our Investments
We intend to hold our target investments for the long-term and, as such, they are carried at an amortized cost on our consolidated balance sheets.
Although we intend to hold our target investments for the long-term, we may occasionally invest in debt securities and classify them as available-for-sale, or AFS. Investments classified as AFS are carried at their fair value, with changes in fair value recorded through accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders’ equity, rather than through earnings. We do not intend to hold any of our investments for trading purposes.
Changes in Market Interest Rates
Our primary interest rate exposures relate to the yield on our loans and other investments and the financing cost of our borrowings. Changes in interest rates have affected, and may continue to affect, our net interest income from loans and other investments. Interest rate fluctuations resulting in our interest and related expense exceeding interest and related income would result in operating losses for us. For further discussion of the potential impacts of changes in interest rates, see “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk — Interest Rate Risk” in Part I, Item 7A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Summary of Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Our GAAP net (loss) attributable to common stockholders was $(221.5) million (or $(4.39) per basic weighted average share) for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to GAAP net income attributable to common stockholders of $(77.6) million (or $(1.50) per basic weighted average share) for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in GAAP results was primarily due to an increase in provision for credit losses of $(201.4) million and a gain on extinguishment of debt of $(0.8) million during the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to a decrease in provision for credit losses of $(104.8) million and $0.2 million losses on extinguishment of debt during the year ended December 31, 2024.
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Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023
Net Interest Income
The following table presents the components of interest income and interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023:
(in thousands) Year Ended
Interest income:
Interest expense:
Asset-specific financings — 2,902 (2,902)
The majority of our interest-earning assets and liabilities have floating rates based on an index (e.g., one-month SOFR) plus a credit spread. As a result, our asset yields and cost of funds are impacted by changes in benchmark market interest rates and credit spreads on investments and borrowings, as well as changes in the mix of our investment portfolio credit spreads due to new originations, loan amendments, additional fundings, upsizings and repayments.
Interest Income
Interest income for the year ended December 31, 2024, decreased to $185.6 million from $263.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, mainly due to a higher average balance of nonaccrual loans and a lower average balance of our interest-earning assets driven by loan prepayments.
Interest Expense
Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2024, decreased to $149.7 million from $181.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, mainly due to a lower average balances on portfolio level financing and corporate borrowings.
Provision for Credit Losses
The following table presents the components of (provision for) benefit from credit losses for the years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023:
Year Ended December 31,
(Provision for) benefit from credit losses on:
Total (provision for) benefit from credit losses $ (201,412) $ (104,807)
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we recorded a provision for credit losses of $(201.4) million as compared to $(104.8) million during the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in the provision for credit losses was primarily driven by an increase in the allowance for certain collateral-dependent loans during the year ended December 31, 2024, that were individually assessed in accordance with ASU 2016-13.
Revenue from REO Operations
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we recorded revenue from REO operations of $9.3 million as compared to $2.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in revenue from REO is due to the full year of activity on the REO acquisition that occurred on May 16, 2023, as well as the partial year of activity on the REO acquisition that occurred on June 27, 2024.
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Expenses
The following table presents the components of expenses for the years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023:
Year Ended December 31,
Expenses from real estate owned operations 13,186 5,977
We incur compensation and benefits expenses, servicing expenses related to the servicing of commercial real estate loans, expenses from REO operations and other operating expenses. Compensation and benefits and servicing expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024, saw a decrease as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Expenses from real estate owned operations for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, increased due to the acquisitions of REO in May 2023 and June 2024. Other operating expenses saw an increase as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Our operating expense ratio, excluding REO, increased during the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, mainly due to lower average equity mainly driven by higher CECL reserves.
Financial Condition
As of December 31, 2024, our borrowings consisted of repurchase agreement facilities collateralized by a portion of our loans held-for-investment, securitized debt obligations issued by CRE CLOs collateralized by pools of our loans held-for-investment and a secured credit facility collateralized by loans held-for-investment.
As of December 31, 2024, we had outstanding $0.6 billion of repurchase agreement facility borrowings, and the term to maturity ranged from approximately 0.4 years to approximately 0.6 years. Our repurchase agreement facilities had a weighted average borrowing rate of 7.8% and weighted average remaining maturities of 0.5 years as of December 31, 2024.
As of December 31, 2024, we had outstanding $0.8 billion of securitized debt obligations with a weighted average borrowing rate of 6.6% and weighted average estimated remaining maturities of 0.7 years based on the maturities of the underlying loan collateral.
As of December 31, 2024, we had outstanding $86.8 million of secured credit facility borrowings with a weighted average borrowing rate of 10.9% and a term to maturity of 1.0 years.
As of December 31, 2024, the debt-to-equity ratio, defined as total debt, net of cash, divided by equity, was 2.2:1.0.
Dividends
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we declared dividends on our common stock totaling $0.30 per share. As a REIT, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our taxable income to stockholders, subject to certain distribution requirements. Furthermore, if we distribute less than the sum of: (a) 85% of our ordinary income for the calendar year; (b) 95% of our capital gain net income for the calendar year; and (c) any undistributed shortfall from our prior calendar year, or the Required Distribution, to our stockholders during any calendar year (including any distributions declared by the last day of the calendar year but paid in January of the subsequent year), then we are required to pay non-deductible excise tax equal to 4% of any shortfall between the Required Distribution and the amount that was actually distributed. Cash dividends cannot be paid on our common stock unless we have paid full cumulative dividends on all classes of our preferred stock. We have paid full cumulative dividends on all classes of our preferred stock from the respective dates of issuance through December 31, 2024.
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The following table presents cash dividends declared on our common stock since 2023:
Declaration Date Record Date Payment Date Cash Dividend Per Share
The following table summarizes dividends declared since 2023 and their related tax characterization (per share amounts):
Tax Characterization of Dividends
____________________
(1)The dividend declared in the fourth quarter of 2023 and paid in the first quarter of 2024 was treated as a 2024 distribution for federal income tax purposes. The dividend declared in the fourth quarter of 2024 and paid in the first quarter of 2025 was treated as a 2025 dividend for federal tax purposes.
(2)Beginning with the year ended December 31, 2018, and subsequent years,ordinary dividends (non-qualified) are also the portion of dividends that may be eligible for the 20% qualified business income deduction under Internal Revenue Code Section 199A.
(3)Distributions in excess of earnings and profits resulted in a return of capital for tax purposes.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Capitalization
To date, we have capitalized our business primarily through the issuance and sale of shares of our common and preferred stock, borrowings under our senior secured term loan facilities, secured financing facilities, issuance of CRE CLOs and the issuance and sale of convertible notes. As of December 31, 2024, our capitalization included $1.5 billion of loan-level financing. Our loan-level financing as of December 31, 2024, is generally term-matched or matures in 2025, and includes $0.6 billion of secured repurchase agreements, $0.8 billion of CRE CLO securitizations, which are term-matched to the underlying assets, non-recourse and non-mark-to-market, and a $86.8 million term-matched and non-mark-to-market secured credit facility.
See Note 5 – Variable Interest Entities and Securitized Debt Obligations and Note 6 – Secured Financing Agreements to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details regarding our securitized debt obligations and our secured financing facilities, respectively.
Leverage
From December 31, 2023, to December 31, 2024, our debt-to-equity ratio, defined as total debt, net of cash, divided by total equity, increased modestly from 2.1:1.0 to 2.2:1.0 mainly driven by a reduction in total equity, partially offset by a reduction in outstanding debt. As part of our investment strategy, we plan to finance our target assets with a moderate amount of leverage, the level of which may vary based upon the particular characteristics of our portfolio and market conditions. To that end, subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT and our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act, we intend to use borrowings to fund the origination or acquisition of our target investments. Given our focus on senior floating-rate mortgage loans, we currently expect that such leverage will be, on a total debt-to-equity ratio basis, within a range of 3.0:1.0 and 3.5:1.0; however, our leverage may vary and differ from our expectations depending on market conditions and any steps we may take to strengthen our balance sheet and enhance our liquidity position. The amount of leverage we deploy for our target investments depends upon our assessment of a variety of factors, which may include the anticipated liquidity and any changes in value of the investments in our portfolio, the potential for losses in our portfolio, the gap between the maturities of our assets
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and liabilities, the availability and cost of financing our investments, our opinion of the creditworthiness of our financing counterparties, the health of the U.S. economy and commercial real estate financing markets, our outlook for the level and volatility of interest rates, the slope of the yield curve, the credit quality of our investments, the collateral underlying our investments and our outlook for investment credit spreads relative to SOFR.
Sources of Liquidity
Our primary sources of liquidity include cash and cash equivalents on our consolidated balance sheets, any approved but unused borrowing capacity under our financing facilities, the net proceeds of future public and private equity and debt offerings, payments of principal, including loan repayments and prepayments, loan sales, interest we receive on our portfolio of assets and cash generated from our operating results.
The following table sets forth our immediately available sources of liquidity as of December 31, 2024:
(in thousands) December 31, 2024
Cash and cash equivalents $ 87,788
Approved but unused borrowing capacity on financing facilities —
We have access to liquidity through public offerings of debt and equity securities, subject to market and other conditions. To facilitate such offerings, in August 2024, we filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC that is effective for a term of three years and expires in August 2027. The amount of securities to be issued pursuant to this shelf registration statement was not specified when it was filed. The securities covered by this registration statement include: (i) common stock, (ii) preferred stock, (iii) depositary shares, (iv) debt securities, (v) purchase contracts, and (vi) purchase units. The specifics of any future offerings, along with the use of proceeds of any securities offered, will be described in detail in a prospectus supplement, or other offering materials, at the time of any offering. At any time, and from time to time, we may be evaluating or pursuing one or more liquidity enhancing transactions, but we cannot provide any assurance if or when we will consummate any such transaction, or the terms thereof.
Although we generally intend to hold our target investments as long-term investments, we have opportunistically sold, and may again in the future sell, certain of our assets in order to manage our liquidity needs, to meet other operating objectives and to adapt to market conditions. We cannot predict the timing and impact of future sales of our assets, if any. Since many of our assets are financed with secured financing facilities and/or CRE CLOs, a significant portion of the proceeds from sales of our assets, prepayments and scheduled amortization would be used to repay balances under these financing arrangements.
We remain focused on actively managing our balance sheet and liquidity to best position us for the market environment, to satisfy our loan future funding and financing obligations and to make new investments, which we expect will cause us to take, and in some instances has already caused us to take, some or all of the following actions: raise capital from offerings of equity and/or debt securities, on a public or private basis; borrow additional capital; post additional collateral; sell assets; and/or change our dividend policy, which we will continue to evaluate in respect of future quarters based upon customary considerations, including market conditions and distribution requirements to maintain our REIT status. At any given time and from time to time we may be evaluating or pursuing one or more transactions, including, but not limited to, loan sales, capital markets activities and other sources of funding, to improve our liquidity or to refinance our debt or may otherwise seek transactions to reduce our interest expense or leverage and extend our debt maturities, which transactions, depending on market conditions and other factors, could result in actual losses and/or otherwise negatively impact our results of operations in one or more periods.
Liquidity Needs
In addition to our loan origination activities and general operating expenses, our primary liquidity needs include interest and principal payments under our $1.5 billion of outstanding borrowings under our repurchase facilities, CRE CLOs, and secured credit facility; $90.6 million of unfunded loan commitments; and dividend distributions to our preferred and common stockholders, which are at the discretion of our board of directors.
Financing Availability
We are subject to the availability and cost of financing to successfully execute on our business strategy and generate attractive risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders. Much of our financing is in the form of repurchase facilities or other types of credit facilities provided to us by our lender counterparties. We mitigate this counterparty risk by seeking to diversify our lending partners, focusing on establishing borrowing relationships with strong counterparties and continuously monitoring them through a thoughtful approach to counterparty risk oversight. Additionally, as part of our broader risk management strategy, and to the extent available in the market, we finance our business through other means which may include, but not be limited to, CRE CLOs, note sales and the issuance of unsecured debt and equity instruments. We continue to actively explore additional types of funding facilities in order to further diversify our financing sources. Investor concerns over inflation trends, elevated interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty have resulted in significant disruptions in financial markets and uncertainty about the overall macroeconomic and capital markets outlook. These conditions have negatively impacted, and may continue to
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negatively impact, real estate fundamentals and real estate capital markets, which could make it more difficult for us to obtain or maintain financing.
The following table provides the maturities of the collateral underlying our repurchase facilities, secured credit facility and securitized debt obligations, as of December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023:
Three to five years 36,652 —
Five years and over — —
Cash Flows
For the year ended December 31, 2024, our restricted and unrestricted cash and cash equivalents balance decreased approximately $84.7 million, to $114.5 million. The cash movements can be summarized by the following:
•Cash flows from operating activities. For the year ended December 31, 2024, operating activities increased our cash balances by approximately $8.8 million, primarily driven by equity compensation and amortization and depreciation.
•Cash flows from investing activities. For the year ended December 31, 2024, investing activities increased our cash balances by approximately $435.2 million, primarily driven by repayments of loans held-for-investment.
•Cash flows from financing activities. For the year ended December 31, 2024, financing activities decreased our cash balances by approximately $528.7 million, primarily driven by principal payments on repurchase facilities and securitized debt obligations, partially offset by proceeds from repurchase agreements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to make certain judgments and assumptions, based on information available at the time, of our preparation of the financial statements, in determining accounting estimates used in preparation of the statements. Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 2 – Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our most critical accounting policies involve decisions and assessments that could affect our reported assets and liabilities, as well as our reported revenues and expenses. We believe that all of the decisions and assessments used to prepare our financial statements are based upon reasonable assumptions given the information available at that time. The accounting policies and estimates that we believe are most critical to a stockholder’s understanding of our financial results and condition are discussed below.
Loans Held-for-Investment and Provision for Credit Losses
Loans held-for-investment are reported at cost, net of any provision for credit losses, unamortized acquisition premiums or discounts, loan fees and origination costs, as applicable.
We estimate our CECL allowance for our loan portfolio at the individual loan level. Significant inputs to our forecasting methods include (i) key loan-specific inputs such as vintage year, loan-term, underlying property type, geographic location, and expected timing and amount of future loan fundings, (ii) performance against the underwritten business plan and our internal loan risk rating, and (iii) a macroeconomic forecast. In certain instances, we consider relevant loan-specific qualitative factors to certain loans to estimate our CECL allowance.
We consider loan investments that are both (i) expected to be substantially repaid through the operation or sale of the underlying collateral, and (ii) for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty, to be “collateral-dependent” loans. For such loans that we determine foreclosure of the collateral is probable, we measure the expected losses based on the difference between the fair value of the collateral and the amortized cost basis of the loan as of the measurement date. For collateral-dependent loans that we determine foreclosure is not probable, we apply a practical expedient to estimate expected losses using the difference between the collateral’s fair value (less costs to sell the asset if repayment is expected through the sale of the collateral) and the amortized cost basis of the loan. Our estimate of the fair value of the collateral property is sensitive to both the valuation methodology selected and inputs used in the analysis. As a result, the fair value of the collateral property used in determining the expected credit losses is subject to uncertainty and any actual losses, if incurred, could differ materially from the estimated provision for credit losses.
Our loans typically include commitments to fund incremental proceeds to our borrowers over the life of the loan. Those future funding commitments are also subject to a CECL reserve. The CECL reserve related to future loan fundings is recorded as a component of other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets, and not as an offset to the related loan balance. This
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CECL reserve is estimated using the same process outlined above for our outstanding loan balances, and changes in this component of the CECL reserve will similarly flow through our consolidated statements of operations.
Credit performance of our portfolio is monitored regularly, with more intense analysis and oversight done on a quarterly basis, and each loan is evaluated by assessing the risk factors of each loan and assigning a risk rating based on a variety of factors. See Note 3 – Loans Held-for-Investment, Net of Allowance for Credit Losses to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details regarding our risk ratings.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Refer to Note 2 – Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Dividends
We generally intend to distribute substantially all of our taxable income each year (which does not necessarily equal net income as calculated in accordance with GAAP) to our stockholders to comply with the REIT provisions of the Code. In addition, our dividend policy remains subject to revision at the discretion of our board of directors. All distributions will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other things, our actual results of operations and liquidity. These results, and our ability to pay distributions, will be affected by various factors, including our taxable income, our financial condition, our maintenance of REIT status, restrictions related to our financing facilities, applicable law and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant.
Inflation
Nearly all of our assets and liabilities are interest rate sensitive in nature. As a result, interest rates and other factors typically influence our performance more than inflation does. However, changes in interest rates may correlate with inflation rates or changes in inflation rates. In response to the inflationary pressures, in 2022 and 2023, the Federal Reserve increased its benchmark overnight interest rates. While the Federal Reserve reduced its benchmark overnight interest rates in the second half of 2024, they remain at elevated levels. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and our distributions will be determined by our board of directors consistent with our obligation to distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of our REIT taxable income on an annual basis in order to maintain our REIT qualification; in each case, our activities and balance sheet are measured with reference to historical cost and/or fair market value without considering inflation.
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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We seek to manage our risks related to the credit quality of our investments, interest rates, liquidity and market value while, at the same time, seeking to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders. While we are exposed to certain types of market risk in our business, we seek to actively manage them using our risk management infrastructure and philosophy centered around quantifying and measuring various market risks on a continuous basis. We seek to be fairly compensated through the returns we earn on our investments for taking those risks and focus on maintaining liquidity and capital levels consistent with the risks to which we are exposed. However, many of those risks have been magnified by the continuing economic disruption and capital markets volatility resulting from inflation, elevated interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty.
Recent Market Conditions
Due to the macroeconomic challenges driven by inflation trends, elevated interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty, most of our borrowers, sponsors, their tenants, the properties serving as collateral for our loan investments and the economy as a whole have been, and will likely continue to be, adversely affected. See “Macroeconomic Environment” in Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of current market conditions.
Credit Risk
We are subject to varying degrees of credit risk in connection with holding a portfolio of our target investments. The performance and value of our investments depend upon the sponsors’ ability to operate the properties that serve as our collateral so that they produce cash flows adequate to pay interest and principal due to us. We seek to manage credit risk by performing deep fundamental credit analysis of our potential investments, as well as seeking to originate or acquire assets of higher quality at appropriate rates of return given anticipated and unanticipated losses, by employing a comprehensive review and selection process and by proactively monitoring our investments. Credit risk is also addressed through our ongoing review, and our investment portfolio is monitored for variance from underwritten and expected results on a monthly basis, with more intense analysis and oversight done on a quarterly basis. Nevertheless, unanticipated credit losses, including as a result of inflation, elevated interest rates and geopolitical uncertainty, could occur and could adversely impact our operating results.
We employ a long-term, fundamental value-oriented investment strategy and we aim to, on a loan-by-loan basis, construct an investment portfolio that is well-diversified across property types, geographies and sponsors.
We maintain an active dialogue and strong relationships with our borrowers as part of our overall asset management strategy to maximize the performance of our portfolio, including during periods of volatility. While we generally believe that the principal amount of our loans is typically sufficiently protected by the underlying collateral value, there is a risk that we will not realize the entire principal amount of certain of our loan investments.
Interest Rate Risk
Our primary strategy is to originate, invest in and manage a portfolio of senior floating-rate commercial mortgage loans. As a result, the composition of our investments in general is such that rising interest rates increase our net income, while declining interest rates will decrease our net income, subject to the impact of contractual interest rate floors. From time to time, we may originate, acquire or otherwise hold fixed-rate investments, which may expose our operating results to the risks posed by fluctuations in interest rates, which we may choose to hedge, if we deem it prudent.
In response to inflationary pressures, the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark overnight interest rates on multiple occasions in 2022 and 2023. While the Federal Reserve reduced its benchmark overnight interest rates in the second half of 2024, they remain high and how long they will remain at elevated levels remains uncertain. These higher interest rates have increased our interest expense, which may not be fully offset by any increases in interest income. In addition, these higher benchmark interest rates have increased our borrowers’ interest payments, adversely affected commercial real estate property values and, for certain of our borrowers have contributed, and may continue to contribute, to loan non-performance, modifications, defaults, foreclosures and/or property sales, which has resulted, and may continue to result, in us realizing losses on our investments.
As of December 31, 2024, approximately 97.9% of our portfolio by principal balance earned a floating rate of interest. The remaining approximately 2.1% of our portfolio earned a fixed rate of interest. If interest rates were to decline, the value of these fixed-rate investments may increase, and if interest rates were to increase, the value of these fixed-rate investments may fall; however, the interest income generated by these investments would not be affected by fluctuations in market interest rates. The interest rates we pay under our current secured financing facilities and CRE CLOs are primarily floating rate, which generally, and with limited exceptions, are not subject to contractual interest rate floors. Accordingly, our interest expense generally increases as interest rates increase and decreases as interest rates decrease.
Our analysis of risks is based on our experience, estimates and assumptions. Actual economic conditions or our implementation of decisions may produce results that differ significantly from the estimates and assumptions used in our analyses.
The information presented in the following interest rate sensitivity table projects the potential impact of sudden parallel changes in interest rates on our financial results and financial condition over the next 12 months, based on our interest sensitive financial instruments at December 31, 2024. All changes in value are measured as the change from our December 31, 2024,
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financial position. All projected changes in annualized net interest income are measured as the change from our projected annualized net interest income based off current performance returns. Actual results of changes in annualized net interest income may differ from the information presented in the sensitivity table below due to differences between the dates of actual interest rate resets in our loan investments and our floating rate interest-bearing liabilities, and the dates as of which the analysis was performed.
Changes in Interest Rates
Change in value of financial position:
Secured financing facility (36) (18) 18 36
Total net assets $ (20) $ 8 $ (17) $ (34)
Change in annualized net interest income: $ (17) $ (428) $ 641 $ 1,282
The interest rate sensitivity table quantifies the potential changes in annualized net interest income and portfolio value, should interest rates immediately change. The interest rate sensitivity table presents the estimated impact of interest rates instantaneously rising 50 and 100 basis points, and falling 50 and 100 basis points. The cash flows associated with the portfolio for each rate change are calculated based on assumptions with respect to interest rates and size of the portfolio. Assumptions made on the interest rate sensitive liabilities include anticipated interest rates, collateral requirements as a percentage of borrowings and amount and term of borrowing.
Certain assumptions have been made in connection with the calculation of the information set forth in the foregoing interest rate sensitivity table and, as such, there can be no assurance that assumed events will occur or that other events will not occur that would affect the outcomes. The base interest rate scenario assumes interest rates at December 31, 2024. The analysis utilizes assumptions and estimates based on management’s judgment and experience. Furthermore, while we generally expect to retain such assets and the associated interest rate risk to maturity, future originations, acquisitions and sales of assets could materially change our interest rate risk profile.
The information set forth in the interest rate sensitivity table above and all related disclosures constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimated in the foregoing interest rate sensitivity table.
Market Value Risk
We intend to hold our target investments for the long-term and, as such, they are carried at an amortized cost on our consolidated balance sheets. However, we may occasionally classify some of our investments as AFS. Investments classified as AFS are carried at their fair value, with changes in fair value recorded through accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders’ equity, rather than through earnings. The estimated fair value of such investments may fluctuate primarily due to changes in interest rates, overall market environment and liquidity and other factors. As market volatility increases or liquidity decreases, the market value of the investments may be adversely impacted. We do not intend to hold any of our investments for trading purposes.
Borrower Performance
In addition to the risks related to fluctuations in cash flows and investment values associated with movements in interest rates, there is also the risk of borrower non-performance on our floating-rate investments. If interest rates were to significantly rise, it is possible that the increased debt service costs may negatively impact operating cash flows on properties securing our commercial real estate loan investments, resulting in potential non-performance of our borrowers or, in severe cases, default. This risk is partially mitigated by various factors we consider during our rigorous underwriting and loan structuring process, which in certain cases include a requirement for our borrower to purchase an interest rate cap contract.
Capital Markets Risk
As a REIT, we are required to distribute a significant portion of our taxable income annually, which constrains our ability to accumulate significant operating cash flow and therefore requires us to utilize capital markets, both debt and equity, to finance our business. As a result, we are exposed to risks related to the equity capital markets and our related ability to raise capital through the issuance of our common stock or other equity instruments. We are also exposed to risks related to the debt capital markets, and our related ability to finance our business through borrowings under credit facilities or other debt instruments,
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such as securitizations or unsecured debt. We seek to mitigate these risks by monitoring the debt and equity capital markets to inform our decisions on the amount, timing and terms of capital we raise.
Various factors, such as elevated interest rates, inflation, geopolitical tensions and volatility in public equity and fixed income markets have led to increased cost and decreased availability of capital, which may adversely impact the ability of commercial property owners to service their debt obligations and refinance their loans as they mature and/or our ability to access capital markets.
Real Estate Risk
Our business strategy focuses on commercial real estate related debt investments. As a result, we will be exposed to the risks generally associated with the commercial real estate market, including occupancy rates, capitalization rates, absorption rates and other macroeconomic factors beyond our control.
Additionally, commercial real estate debt investments may be affected by a number of factors, including international, national, regional and local economic and real estate conditions, changes in business trends of specific industry segments, property construction characteristics, demographic factors and changes to laws and regulations, including additional restrictions or requirements on the development of commercial real estate intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Any combination of these factors may affect the value of real estate collateral for investments within our investment portfolio and the potential proceeds available to a borrower to repay the underlying loans, which could cause us to suffer losses. We seek to manage these risks through our rigorous and fundamentally driven underwriting and investment management processes.
Liquidity Risk
Our liquidity risk is principally associated with our financing of longer-maturity investments with shorter-term borrowings, such as repurchase facilities. Should the value of our investments serving as collateral for our repurchase facilities significantly decrease, our lenders may exercise their margin call rights, causing an adverse change in our liquidity position. If we fail to resolve such margin calls when due, the lenders may exercise their rights under such repurchase facilities, including requiring payment by us of our aggregate outstanding financing obligations and/or taking ownership of the collateral securing such obligations, potentially on an unfinanced basis, thereby reducing our available liquidity. Additionally, if one or more of our financing counterparties should choose not to provide ongoing funding, including with respect to future funding obligations on existing loans financed with such counterparties, our ability to finance our investments and related future funding obligations would possibly decline or exist at less advantageous terms.
Extension Risk
We manage our assets based on a variety of assumptions and estimates, including among others, assumptions regarding the rate at which the borrowers will prepay our loans or extend. If prepayment rates decrease in a rising interest rate environment or extension options are exercised, the life of our loan investments could extend beyond the term of the secured financing arrangements. The current macroeconomic, commercial real estate and capital markets disruptions have resulted in, and will likely continue to result in, a decrease in prepayment rates and an increase in the number of our borrowers who exercise loan extension options. In addition, higher interest rates imposed by the Federal Reserve have led to, and may continue to lead to, a decrease in the pace of loan repayment and an increase in the number of our borrowers who exercise loan extension options. This could have a negative impact on our results of operations. In some situations, we may be forced to sell assets to maintain adequate liquidity, which could cause us to incur losses.
As part of our overall asset management strategy, we have in the past entered into, and may in the future enter into, loan modifications with some of our borrowers. These amendments may include, among other things, modifying or waiving certain performance or extension conditions as part of the overall agreement, which are often coupled with additional equity or other forms of credit support from the sponsor. We work closely with our lending counterparties when negotiating and entering into loan modifications with our borrowers to ensure we maintain financing on modified assets. There can be no assurance that going forward we will be able to maintain financing on modified loans.
Risk Management
To the extent consistent with maintaining our REIT qualification, we seek to manage risk exposure by closely monitoring our portfolio and actively managing the financing, interest rate, credit and other risks associated with holding a portfolio of our target investments. Generally, we:
•manage our portfolio with focus on diligent, investment-specific market review, enforcement of loan and security rights and timely execution of disposition strategies;
•actively employ portfolio-wide and investment-specific risk measurement and management processes in our daily operations, including utilizing risk management tools; and
•seek to manage credit risk through our rigorous underwriting due diligence process prior to origination or acquisition of our target investments, and through the use of nonrecourse financing when and where available and appropriate.
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
GRANITE POINT MORTGAGE TRUST INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 42) 62
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 64
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 68
Schedule IV - Mortgage Loans on Real Estate 95
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors
of Granite Point Mortgage Trust Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Granite Point Mortgage Trust Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 27, 2025 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the account or disclosures to which it relates.
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Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans held-for-investment
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 27, 2025
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GRANITE POINT MORTGAGE TRUST INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share data)
ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities
Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 10)
Stockholders’ Equity
Total Granite Point Mortgage Trust Inc. Stockholders’ Equity 619,092 858,898
Non-controlling interests 125 125
______________________
(1)The consolidated balance sheets include assets of consolidated variable interest entities, or VIEs, that can only be used to settle obligations of these VIEs, and liabilities of the consolidated VIEs for which creditors do not have recourse to Granite Point Mortgage Trust Inc. At December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, assets of the VIEs totaled $951,295 and $1,233,821, respectively, and liabilities of the VIEs totaled $790,339 and $994,081, respectively. See Note 5 - Variable Interest Entitiesand Securitized Debt Obligations, for further detail.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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GRANITE POINT MORTGAGE TRUST INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
(in thousands, except share data)
Year Ended
December 31,
Interest income:
Interest expense:
Term financing facility — — 1,713
Senior secured term loan facilities — — 3,754
Other income (loss):
Revenue from real estate owned operations 9,327 2,622 —
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt (786) 238 (18,823)
Realized losses on sales — — (1,702)
Expenses:
Expenses from real estate owned operations 13,186 5,977 —
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes (10) 95 17
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding:
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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GRANITE POINT MORTGAGE TRUST INC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands, except share data)
Common Stock Preferred Stock
Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) forfeiture — — — — (798) — — (798) — (798)
Preferred dividends declared, $100 per share — — — — — — (100) (100) — (100)
Preferred dividends declared, $49.44 per share — — — — — — (49) (49) — (49)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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GRANITE POINT MORTGAGE TRUST INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Realized losses on loan sales — — 1,702
Depreciation and amortization on real estate owned 6,513 3,492 —
Net change in assets and liabilities:
Decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivable 3,712 1,033 (2,697)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities (3,968) (202) (957)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures related to real estate owned (2,767) — —
Purchases of other investments (730) — —
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Repayment of senior secured term loan facilities — — (150,000)
Proceeds from asset-specific financings — 910 1,291
Repayment of asset-specific financings — (45,823) —
Proceeds from secured credit facility 2,774 — 100,000
Repayment of secured credit facility — (16,000) —
Repayment of term financing facility — — (129,099)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of offering costs — — 87,521
Tax withholding on restricted stock and RSUs (1,187) (966) (1,736)
Redemption of cumulative redeemable preferred stock — (1,000) —
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash (received) paid for taxes $ (477) $ 964 $ 463
Noncash Activities:
Dividends declared but not paid at end of period $ 6,238 $ 14,136 $ 14,318
Deferred financing costs, not yet paid $ — $ 1,313 $ 1,757
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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GRANITE POINT MORTGAGE TRUST INC.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1. Organization and Operations
Granite Point Mortgage Trust Inc., or the Company, is an internally managed commercial real estate finance company that focuses primarily on directly originating, investing in and managing senior floating-rate commercial mortgage loans and other debt and debt-like commercial real estate investments. These investments are capitalized by accessing a variety of funding sources, including borrowing under the Company’s bank credit facilities or other asset financings, issuing commercial real estate collateralized loan obligations, or CRE CLOs, and issuing other forms of secured and unsecured debt and equity securities, depending on market conditions and the Company’s view of the most appropriate funding option available for the Company’s investments. The Company is not in the business of buying or trading securities, and the only securities it owns are the retained interests from its CRE CLOs. The Company’s investment objective is to preserve the Company’s stockholders’ capital while generating attractive risk-adjusted returns over the long term, primarily through dividends derived from current income produced by the Company’s investment portfolio. The Company’s common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “GPMT”. Our principal executive offices are located at 3 Bryant Park, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10036. The Company operates its business in a manner that is intended to permit it to maintain its exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, or the Investment Company Act. The Company operates its business as one segment. The Company was incorporated in Maryland on April 7, 2017, and commenced operations as a publicly traded company on June 28, 2017.
The Company has elected to be treated as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, as defined under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As long as the Company continues to comply with a number of requirements under federal tax law and maintains its qualification as a REIT, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes to the extent that the Company distributes its taxable income to its stockholders on an annual basis and does not engage in prohibited transactions. However, certain activities that the Company may perform may cause it to earn income which will not be qualifying income for REIT purposes. The Company has designated one of its subsidiaries as a taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS, as defined in the Code, to engage in such activities.
Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all subsidiaries; inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP.
All entities in which the Company holds investments that are considered variable interest entities, or VIEs, for financial reporting purposes were reviewed for consolidation under the applicable consolidation guidance. Whenever the Company has both the power to direct the activities of an entity that most significantly impact the entity’s performance, and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entity that could be significant, the Company consolidates the entity. See Note 5 - Variable Interest Entities and Securitized Debt Obligations to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details regarding consolidation of VIEs.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make a number of significant estimates. These include estimates of amount and timing of allowances for credit losses, fair value of certain assets and liabilities including real estate owned and associated purchase price allocation of fair value, and other estimates that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of certain revenues and expenses during the reported period. It is likely that changes in these estimates (e.g., valuation changes to the underlying collateral of loans due to changes in market interest and capitalization rates, leasing, credit-worthiness of major tenants, occupancy rates, availability of financing, exit plan, loan sponsorship, actions of other lenders, overall economic and capital markets conditions, the broader commercial real estate market, local geographic sub-markets or other factors) will occur in the near term.
The Company believes the estimates and assumptions underlying its consolidated financial statements are reasonable and supportable based on the information available as of December 31, 2024. However, the Company’s actual results could ultimately differ from its estimates and such differences may be material.
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GRANITE POINT MORTGAGE TRUST INC.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Significant Accounting Policies
Loans Held-for-Investment, Net
The Company originates and acquires commercial real estate debt and related instruments generally to be held as long-term investments. These assets are classified as loans held-for-investment on the consolidated balance sheets. Additionally, the Company finances pools of its commercial real estate loans through CRE CLOs, which are considered VIEs for financial reporting purposes and, thus, are reviewed for consolidation under the applicable consolidation guidance. The Company has both the power to direct the activities of the CRE CLOs that most significantly impact the entities’ performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the entities that could be significant, therefore, the Company consolidates the CRE CLOs and classifies the underlying loans as loans held-for-investment. The Company utilizes a third-party servicer who services the commercial real estate loans that the Company invests in and commercial real estate loans underlying CRE CLOs and other commercial real estate debt investments to collect principal and interest payments on such commercial real estate loans and performs certain asset management services.
Interest income on loans held-for-investment is recognized at the loan coupon rate. Any premiums or discounts, loan fees, contractual exit fees and origination costs are amortized or accreted into interest income over the lives of the loans using the effective interest method. Generally, loans held-for-investment are placed on nonaccrual status when delinquent for more than 90 days or when determined not to be probable of full collection. Interest income recognition is suspended when loans are placed on nonaccrual status. Interest accrued, but not collected, at the date loans are placed on nonaccrual is written off by reversing the accrued interest through interest income if determined not probable of collection, and subsequently recognized only to the extent it is received in cash or until it qualifies for return to accrual status; however, accrued interest receivable that has not been written off after 90 days, and subsequently is determined not to be probable of full collection, is written off within the provision for credit losses on the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. When there is doubt regarding the ultimate collectability of loan principal, all cash received is applied to reduce the carrying value of such loans. Loans held-for-investment are restored to accrual status only when contractually current or the collection of future payments is reasonably assured. The Company may make exceptions to placing a loan on nonaccrual status if the loan has sufficient collateral value and is in the process of collection or has been modified.
Loans held-for-investment are reported at cost, net of allowance for credit losses, any unamortized acquisition premiums or discounts, loan fees and origination costs, as applicable. Changes to the allowance for credit losses are recognized through net (loss) income on the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. The allowance is based on relevant information about past events, including historical loss experience, current portfolio, market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts for the duration of each respective loan. All loans held-for-investment within the Company’s portfolio have some amount of expected loss to reflect the principal underlying the Current Expected Credit Losses, or CECL, model that all loans have some inherent risk of loss, regardless of credit quality, subordinate capital or other mitigating factors. Estimating an allowance for credit losses is inherently subjective, as it requires management to exercise significant judgment in establishing appropriate factors used to determine the allowance and a variety of subjective assumptions, including (i) determination of relevant historical loan loss data sets, (ii) the expected timing and amount of future loan fundings and repayments, (iii) the current credit quality of loans and operating performance of loan collateral and the Company’s expectations of performance, (iv) selecting the forecast for macroeconomic conditions and (v) determining the reasonable and supportable forecast period.
The Company’s loans typically include commitments to fund incremental proceeds to its borrowers over the life of the loan. Those future funding commitments are also subject to an allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit losses related to future loan fundings is recorded as a component of other liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, and not as an offset to the related loan balance. This allowance for credit losses is estimated using the same process outlined below for the Company’s outstanding loan balances, and changes in this component of the allowance for credit losses similarly flow through the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
The allowance for credit losses is estimated on a quarterly basis and represents management’s estimates of current expected credit losses in the Company’s investment portfolio. Pools of loans with similar risk characteristics are collectively evaluated while loans that no longer share risk characteristics with loan pools are evaluated individually. The Company employed quarterly updated macroeconomic forecasts, which reflect expectations for overall economic output, interest rates, values of real estate properties and other factors, geopolitical instability and the Federal Reserve monetary policy impact on the overall U.S. economy and commercial real estate markets generally. These estimates may change in future periods based on available future macroeconomic data and might result in a material change in the Company’s future estimates of expected credit losses for its loan portfolio.
The Company generally estimates its allowance for credit losses by using a probability-weighted analytical model that considers the likelihood of default and loss-given-default for each individual loan. The Company licenses certain
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GRANITE POINT MORTGAGE TRUST INC.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
macroeconomic financial forecasts from a third-party to inform its view of the potential future impact that broader macroeconomic conditions may have on the performance of the loans held-for-investment. These macroeconomic factors include unemployment rates, interest rates, price indices for commercial property and other factors. The Company may use one or more of these forecasts in the process of estimating its allowance for credit losses. Selection of these economic forecasts requires significant judgment about future events that, while based on the information available to the Company as of the balance sheet date, are ultimately unknowable with certainty, and the actual economic conditions impacting the Company’s portfolio could vary significantly from the estimates the Company made for the periods presented. Significant inputs to the Company’s estimate of the allowance for credit losses include the reasonable and supportable forecast period and loan specific factors such as debt service coverage ratio, or DSCR, loan-to-value ratio, or LTV, remaining contractual loan term, property type and others. In addition, the Company also considers relevant loan-specific qualitative factors to estimate its allowance for credit losses. In certain instances, for loans with unique risk characteristics, the Company may instead elect to employ different methods to estimate loan losses.
The Company considers loan investments that are both (i) expected to be substantially repaid through the operation or sale of the underlying collateral, and (ii) for which the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty, to be “collateral-dependent” loans. For loans that the Company determines foreclosure of the collateral is probable, the Company measures the expected losses based on the difference between the fair value of the collateral, less costs to sell if the Company intends to sell the collateral, and the amortized cost basis of the loan as of the measurement date. For collateral-dependent loans that the Company determines foreclosure is not probable, the Company applies a practical expedient to estimate expected losses using the difference between the collateral’s fair value (less costs to sell the asset if repayment is expected through the sale of the collateral) and the amortized cost basis of the loan.
While utilizing the practical expedient for collateral-dependent loans, the Company generally estimates the fair value of the loan’s underlying collateral using a discounted cash flow model, less the estimated cost to foreclose and sell the property when applicable. The estimation of the fair value of the collateral property involves using various Level 3 unobservable assumptions, which are inherently uncertain and subjective, and are in part developed based on discussions with various market participants and management’s best estimates, which may vary depending on the information available and market conditions as of the valuation date. These assumptions include property net operating income, capitalization rates, and discount rates. Selecting the appropriate inputs and assumptions requires significant judgment and consideration of various factors that are specific to the underlying collateral property being assessed. The Company’s estimate of the fair value of the collateral property is sensitive to both the valuation methodology selected and inputs used in the analysis. As a result, the fair value of the collateral property used in determining the expected credit losses is subject to uncertainty and any actual losses, if incurred, could differ materially from the estimated provision for credit losses.
Loans Held-for-Sale
The Company classifies certain loans as held-for-sale based on management’s intent to sell or otherwise dispose of them. Loans held-for-sale are reported at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. Interest income on loans held-for-sale is recognized at the loan coupon rate and recorded on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash held in bank accounts and cash held in money market funds on an overnight basis.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash includes certain cash balances the Company is required to maintain in restricted accounts as collateral for the Company’s repurchase agreements and with counterparties to support activities related to securities. Cash held by counterparties as collateral, which resides in non-interest bearing accounts, is not available to the Company for general corporate purposes, but may be applied against amounts due to securities and repurchase agreement counterparties or returned to the Company when the collateral requirements are exceeded or at the maturity of the repurchase agreement.
Accrued Interest Receivable
Accrued interest receivable represents interest that is due and payable to the Company. Cash payment is generally received within 30 days of recording the receivable. The Company generally writes off the accrued interest receivable balance when interest is 90 days or more past due unless the loan is both well secured and in the process of collection. Write-offs of accrued interest receivable are generally recognized within interest income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. Accrued interest receivable that has not been written off after 90 days, and subsequently is determined not to be probable of full collection, is written off within the provision for credit losses on the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Due from Counterparties
Due from counterparties includes cash held by counterparties as collateral against the Company’s repurchase agreements but represents excess capacity and deemed unrestricted and a receivable from the counterparty as of the balance sheet date. Due from counterparties is included within other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Real Estate Owned
As part of its portfolio management strategy to maximize an economic outcome from a defaulted loan, the Company may assume legal title or physical possession of the underlying collateral property through foreclosure or the execution of a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. Real estate acquired through a foreclosure or by deed-in-lieu of foreclosure is classified as REO. The Company’s basis in REO and related acquired assets is equal to the estimated fair value of the collateral on the acquisition date and allocated within Real estate owned, Other assets and Other liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The estimated fair value of REO is determined using generally accepted valuation techniques, including a discounted cash flow model and inputs that include the highest and best use for each asset, estimated future values based on discussions with local brokers, investors and other market participants, the estimated holding period for the asset, and discount rates and capitalization rates that reflect estimated investor return requirements for the risks associated with the expected use of each asset. If the estimated fair value of REO is lower than the carrying value of the related loan upon acquisition, the difference is recorded through the provision for credit losses in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. Upon acquisition, the Company allocates the fair value of REO to land and land improvements, building and building improvements, tenant improvements, intangible assets and intangible liabilities, utilizing the relative fair value, as applicable.
As of December 31, 2024, REO and related acquired assets, except for land, are depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives as follows:
Description Depreciable Life
Building 39 years
Building improvements 15 years
Tenant improvements Over lease terms
Lease commissions Over lease terms
Lease intangibles Over lease terms
Renovations and/or replacements that improve or extend the life of the REO are capitalized and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. The cost of ordinary repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
Building and tenant improvements depreciation and in-place lease intangibles amortization expense are recognized in expenses from real estate owned operations in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. Above-market lease intangibles amortization and below-market lease intangibles accretion are recognized in revenue from real estate owned operations in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
REO is initially measured at fair value and is thereafter subject to an impairment assessment on a quarterly basis. Subsequent to an REO acquisition, events or circumstances may occur that may result in a material and sustained decrease in the cash flows generated from the property. REO is evaluated for recoverability when impairment indicators are identified. Upon the identification of an impairment indicator, an REO asset is further considered for impairment when the sum of estimated future undiscounted cash flows to be generated by the REO asset over the estimated remaining holding period is less than the carrying value of such REO asset. An impairment charge is recorded when the carrying value of the REO exceeds the fair value. When determining the fair value of an REO asset, the Company makes certain assumptions including, but not limited to, projected operating cash flows, comparable selling prices and projected cash flows from the eventual disposition of the REO asset. Any impairment losses and gains or losses on sale are included in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income. Revenue and expenses from REO operations are included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income within Revenue from real estate owned operations and Expenses from real estate owned operations, as applicable. The Company did not record any impairments of real estate for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023.
Repurchase Facilities
The Company finances certain of its loans held-for-investment through the use of repurchase facilities. Borrowings under repurchase facilities generally bear interest rates of a specified margin over one-month SOFR, and are generally uncommitted. The repurchase facilities are treated as collateralized financing transactions and are carried at their contractual amounts, as specified in the respective agreements.
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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Securitized Debt Obligations
The Company finances pools of its loans held-for-investment through CRE CLOs retaining the subordinate securities in its investment portfolio. CRE CLOs are accounted for as financing arrangements and consolidated on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The securitized debt obligations not retained by the Company, which are nonrecourse to the Company beyond the assets held in CRE CLOs, are recorded at outstanding principal balance, net of any unamortized deferred debt issuance costs, on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Secured Credit Facilities
The Company finances certain of its loans held-for-investment through the use of a secured credit facility. Borrowings under the secured credit facility generally bear interest rates of a specified margin over one-month SOFR. The secured credit facility financings are treated as collateralized financing transactions and are carried at their contractual amounts, as specified in the respective agreements.
Deferred Debt Issuance Costs
Because the outstanding balance of the Company’s repurchase agreement facilities, asset-specific financing facilities, revolving credit facilities and secured credit facilities may fluctuate as the Company borrows and repays amounts, the Company presents unamortized deferred debt issuance costs related to these credit facilities as an asset on its consolidated balance sheets within other assets. Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs over the term of the related facilities is reported within interest expense on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
Accrued Interest Payable
Accrued interest payable represents interest that is due and payable to third-parties. Interest is generally paid within 30 days to three months of recording the payable, based upon the Company’s remittance requirements. Accrued interest payable is included within other liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
Income Taxes
The Company has elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Code and the corresponding provisions of state law. To qualify as a REIT, the Company must distribute at least 90% of its annual REIT taxable income to stockholders (not including taxable income retained in its taxable subsidiaries) within the time frame set forth in the Code and the Company must also meet certain other requirements. In addition, because certain activities, if performed by the Company, may cause the Company to earn income which does not qualify for the REIT gross income tests, the Company has formed a TRS, to engage in such activities. The TRS’s activities are subject to income taxes, as well as any REIT taxable income not distributed to stockholders.
The Company assesses its tax positions for all open tax years and determines whether the Company has any material unrecognized liabilities in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, or ASC 740. The Company records these liabilities to the extent the Company deems them more likely than not to be incurred. The Company classifies interest and penalties on material uncertain tax positions as interest expense and operating expense, respectively, in its consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
Permanent Equity
The Company has common stock and preferred stock outstanding that are classified as permanent equity. The Company’s common stock is perpetual in nature with voting rights and dividend rights. The Company’s Series A Preferred Stock is classified as permanent equity. The outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be redeemed by the Company on and after November 30, 2026. See Note 11 – Preferred Stock for additional details regarding the Series A Preferred Stock.
Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares outstanding. For both basic and diluted per share calculations, potential common shares represents issued and unvested shares of restricted stock, which have full rights to the common stock dividend declarations of the Company.
Equity Incentive Plans
The Company adopted the 2017 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2017 Plan, to provide incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified directors, officers, advisors, consultants and other personnel. The Plan permitted the granting of restricted shares of common stock, phantom shares, dividend equivalent rights and other equity-based awards.
On June 2, 2022, the Company’s stockholders approved the adoption of the Granite Point 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or the 2022 Plan. The 2022 Plan permits the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units (both non-performance-based, or RSUs, and performance-based, or PSUs), dividend equivalent rights, other stock-based awards and other cash-based awards to employees, certain consultants of the Company and members of the board of directors.
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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Since the adoption of the 2022 Plan, no new equity awards may be granted under the 2017 Plan, but previously-granted RSUs and PSUs remained outstanding under the 2017 Plan as of December 31, 2024.
See Note 13 - Equity Incentive Plans for further details regarding the Equity Incentive Plans.
The cost of equity-based compensation is measured at its fair value at the grant date. Restricted stock and RSU-related compensation is amortized over the vesting term. PSU-related compensation is amortized over the vesting term to the extent that management estimates that it is probable that the performance conditions will be achieved. Changes in the estimate of the probability of achievement of the PSU performance conditions are recorded as a cumulative catch-up adjustment to retroactively apply the new estimate. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. Amortization expense is included within compensation and benefits expense on the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income.
Recently Issued and/or Adopted Accounting Standards
Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures