Great Ajax Corp. (NYSE: AJX), a Maryland corporation that is a real estate investment trust, today announces its results of operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. We focus primarily on acquiring, investing in and managing a portfolio of RPLs secured by single-family residences and commercial properties and, to a lesser extent, NPLs. In addition to our continued focus on residential RPLs, we also originate and acquire SBCs secured by multi-family retail/residential and mixed use properties.

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Our consolidated net income attributable to common stockholders decreased $1.0 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2020. Our gross interest income increased $0.2 million, and our interest expense declined $1.3 million. Our book value increased to $15.35 per common share from $15.20 at June 30, 2020 primarily from the effects of a $4.3 million mark to market increase in the fair value of our debt securities as prices of mortgage backed securities have continued to increase from first quarter lows.

The decrease in our earnings compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2020 was primarily driven by an increase in the amount of our earnings allocated to non-controlling interests, a decrease in earnings from our equity method investments, and an increase in the amortization expense for the put option on our outstanding warrants. The decrease in earnings from our equity method investments was primarily due to the flow through impact of the decline in share price on shares of our stock held by our manager and our servicer. Additionally, our $83.4 million of investments in joint venture debt securities and beneficial interests which were made in the third quarter were on our consolidated balance sheet for a weighted average of only five days during the quarter and therefore provided minimal benefit to our earnings for the third quarter.

Our net interest income prior to the recovery of the provision for credit losses increased $1.6 million over the prior quarter primarily driven by a decrease in our overall cost of funds by approximately 49 basis points during the third quarter and increases in the average balances of our mortgage loan and securities portfolios. We expect our cost of funds to continue to decrease materially in the current interest rate and credit environment.

Our net interest income after the recovery of the provision for credit losses increased $1.3 million over the prior quarter. We had a recovery of $4.0 million of provision for credit losses on our loan and securities portfolios on a consolidated basis, and $3.0 million after allocating $1.0 million to non-controlling interests. This compares to a recovery in the quarter ended June 30, 2020 of $4.3 million, and $4.4 million after $0.1 million of losses to non-controlling interests. The reversal of the provision for credit losses was primarily triggered by better than expected loan performance and its related impact on future cash flows as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cash flow extension has not been as material thus far as we anticipated earlier in the year.

We acquired 244 RPLs for $41.2 million with UPB of $46.3 million and underlying collateral values of $65.3 million, one NPL for $0.5 million with UPB of $0.5 million and underlying collateral value of $0.7 million, and originated two SBC loans with UPB of $1.9 million and underlying collateral values of $3.9 million. These loans were acquired and included on our consolidated balance sheet for a weighted average of 67 days of the quarter. We ended the quarter with $1.1 billion of mortgage loans with an aggregate UPB of $1.2 billion.

We recorded $0.2 million in impairments on our REO held-for-sale portfolio in real estate operating expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 compared to $0.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2020. We continue to liquidate our REO properties held-for-sale at a faster rate than we acquire properties, with seven properties sold in the third quarter while five were added to REO held-for-sale through foreclosures. Our inventory of REO held-for-sale declined by 52% year-to-date through September 30, 2020 as more REO properties were acquired by third parties at foreclosure and foreclosure sales were delayed due to the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We expect these trends to continue into the fourth quarter of 2020.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2020, we repurchased and retired $2.5 million of our senior convertible notes which carry a coupon rate of 7.25% for a total purchase price of $2.3 million.

We use securities and loan repurchase agreements, among other means, to fund our investment activities. Our securities repurchase agreements are subject to margin calls based on the fair value of the security. Due to the turmoil in the financial markets resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak, we received an unusually high volume of margin calls from our financing counterparties during the first quarter of 2020, of which the majority was recovered during the second quarter of 2020. During the quarter ended September 30, 2020, we further recovered cash collateral on a net basis in the amount of $6.6 million from lenders and had $1.0 million of cash collateral on deposit with financing counterparties at September 30, 2020. At September 30, 2020, we held $284.7 million of debt securities in our joint ventures. Of the total debt securities, $265.1 million were pledged as collateral on our repurchase borrowing lines and $19.6 million of debt securities were unencumbered at September 30, 2020. Additionally, we retained $227.2 million in securities from our secured borrowings which are not presented in our consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2020. Of the total retained securities, $98.1 million were pledged as collateral on our repurchase lines and $129.1 million were unencumbered at September 30, 2020. Our investments in beneficial interests in the amount of $86.2 million at September 30, 2020 were unencumbered.

We collected $56.4 million of cash during the quarter as a result of loan payments, loan payoffs, sales of REO and cash collections on our securities portfolio to end the third quarter with $135.2 million in cash and cash equivalents. $44.0 million of our cash collections were derived from our mortgage loan and REO portfolios as a result of loan payments, loan payoffs and sales of REO during the quarter and $12.4 million were derived from interest and principal payments on investments in debt securities and beneficial interests. Of the $44.0 million of cash collections from mortgage loans and REO, we received $21.4 million from loans paying the full amount of principal, past due interest and charges. We also sold $38.9 million of senior debt securities previously issued by our joint ventures and held as investments and retired the corresponding repurchase agreements through which these were financed.

During the quarter we completed our fourth rated securitization, Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2020-B, which closed on August 6, 2020 with an aggregate of $97.2 million of AAA rated senior securities and $17.3 million of A rated securities issued with respect to $156.5 million of mortgage loans, all of which were RPLs. The AAA through A rated senior securities have a weighted average coupon of 1.874% and represent 73.2% of UPB of the underlying mortgage loans.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2020 we co-invested with two third-party institutional investors to form two joint ventures, and retained an aggregate $83.4 million of varying classes of related securities and beneficial interests, to end the quarter with $370.9 million of combined investments in securities and beneficial interests. We acquired 10.01% of each class of the securities of Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2020-C ("2020-C") for a net investment of $41.5 million and 10.01% of each class of Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust 2020-D ("2020-D") for a net investment of $41.9 million, which were on our Consolidated balance sheet for an average of only five days during the quarter and provided minimal benefit to our earnings.

2020-C acquired 2,564 RPLs and NPLs with UPB of $435.1 million and an aggregate property value of $693.0 million. The senior securities represent 78% of the UPB of the underlying mortgage loans and carry a 2.25% interest rate. Based on the structure of the transaction we do not consolidate 2020-C under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP").

2020-D acquired 2,591 RPLs and NPLs with UPB of $441.0 million and an aggregate property value of $690.4 million. The senior securities represent 75% of the UPB of the underlying mortgage loans and carry a 2.25% interest rate. Based on the structure of the transaction we do not consolidate 2020-D under GAAP.

The following table provides an overview of our portfolio at September 30, 2020 ($ in thousands):

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Subsequent Events

Since quarter end we have acquired seven residential RPLs and nine residential NPLs with aggregate UPB of $3.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively, in two transactions and one transaction, respectively, from two sellers and one seller, respectively. The purchase price of the residential RPLs and NPLs equals 81.9% and 83.1%, respectively, of UPB and 66.1% and 70.0%, respectively, of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral of $4.1 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

We have also agreed to acquire, subject to due diligence, 28 residential RPLs and 71 NPLs with aggregate UPB of $3.1 million and $16.5 million, respectively, in eight transactions and two transactions, respectively, from eight sellers and two sellers, respectively. The purchase price of the residential RPLs equals 94.3% of UPB and 45.6% of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral of $6.4 million. The purchase price of the NPLs equals 87.1% of UPB and 45.8% of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral of $31.4 million. We also agreed to acquire seven SBC loans with UPB of $9.9 million. The purchase price of the SBC loans equals 102.0% of UPB and 49.6% of the estimated market value of the underlying collateral of $20.3 million.

On November 5, 2020, our board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.17 per share, to be paid on November 30, 2020 to stockholders of record as of November 16, 2020.

Conference Call

Great Ajax Corp. will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, November 5, 2020 to review our financial results for the quarter. A live Webcast of the conference call will be accessible from the Investor Relations section of our website www.greatajax.com. An archive of the Webcast will be available for 90 days.

About Great Ajax Corp.

Great Ajax Corp. is a Maryland corporation that is a real estate investment trust, that focuses primarily on acquiring, investing in and managing RPLs secured by single-family residences and commercial properties and, to a lesser extent, NPLs. We also originate and acquire loans secured by multi-family residential and smaller commercial mixed use retail/residential properties and acquire multi-family retail/residential and mixed use and commercial properties. We are externally managed by Thetis Asset Management LLC. Our mortgage loans and other real estate assets are serviced by Gregory Funding LLC, an affiliated entity. We have elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Words such as “believes,” “intends,” “expects,” “projects,” “anticipates,” and “future” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions, many of which are beyond the control of Great Ajax, including, without limitation, risks relating to the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the risk factors and other matters set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 4, 2020 and, when filed with the SEC, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak has caused significant volatility and disruption in the financial markets both globally and in the United States. If the COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread or the response to contain it is unsuccessful, Great Ajax could experience material adverse effects on its business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. Great Ajax undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

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