Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation Announces First Quarter 2013 Results

PASADENA, Calif., May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation (NYSE: WMC) today reported a net loss of $28.5 million, or $1.18 per basic and diluted share for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013. Core earnings for the first quarter were $22.6 million, or $0.93 per basic and diluted share¹.  The Company also reported a net book value of $19.42 per share as of March 31, 2013².

FIRST QUARTER 2013 HIGHLIGHTS

• Incurred a net loss of $28.5 million, or $1.18 per basic and diluted share
  • Net loss includes $54.8 million of net unrealized loss on RMBS
• Generated core earnings of $22.6 million, or $0.93 per basic and diluted share¹
• Declared a $0.95 per share regular dividend for the quarter
• $19.42 per share net book value as of March 31, 2013²
• 3.04% weighted average portfolio yield on Agency RMBS, including IO securities accounted for as derivatives, and Non-Agency RMBS (including those Non-Agency securities accounted for as "linked transactions" under GAAP)¹
• 0.87% weighted average effective cost of financing on Agency RMBS, including swaps, and Non-Agency RMBS (including linked transactions)¹ 
• 2.17% weighted average net interest spread on Agency RMBS, including IO securities accounted for as derivatives, Non-Agency RMBS (including linked transactions), and swaps¹
• $4.4 billion investment portfolio fair value as of March 31, 2013
• Constant prepayment rate on its Agency RMBS portfolio of 3.4% for the quarter
• 8.7x leverage (including borrowings on linked-transactions) as of March  31, 2013³

FIRST QUARTER 2013 RESULTS

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2013, the Company had a net loss of $28.5 million, or $1.18 per basic and diluted share. Included in the net loss was $54.8 million of net unrealized loss on RMBS and other securities, $13.9 million of net realized loss on RMBS and other securities (including other loss on residential mortgage-backed securities of $2.3 million), and $15.4 million of net gain on derivative instruments and linked transactions. During the period, the Company generated core earnings of $22.6 million, or $0.93 per basic and diluted share.  Core earnings represents a non-GAAP financial measure and is defined as net income (loss) excluding: (i) net realized gain (loss) on investments and derivative contracts; (ii) net unrealized gain (loss) on investments; (iii) loss resulting from mark-to-market adjustments on derivative contracts; (iv) other loss on RMBS; (v) non-cash stock-based compensation expense; and (vi) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain other non-cash charges. Net interest income for the period was $28.6 million.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2013, the Company's weighted average yield on its portfolio was 3.04%, including Agency RMBS, interest from Agency IO securities accounted for as derivatives, and Non-Agency RMBS (including linked transactions). The Company's effective cost of funds on its Agency and Non-Agency RMBS financing (including the cost of interest rate swaps and linked transactions) was 0.87%. The annualized net interest spread on its portfolio was 2.17%, including Agency RMBS, interest from Agency IO securities accounted for as derivatives, and Non-Agency RMBS (including linked transactions) and taking into account the cost of the interest rate swaps.

CONSTANT PREPAYMENT RATES

The actual constant prepayment rate ("CPR") for the Company's Agency RMBS portfolio during the first quarter was 3.4% on an annualized basis, as compared to 3.6% for the fourth quarter of 2012. The CPR for the Company's portfolio for the month of April 2013 was 3.4%.

"During the first quarter of 2013, asset prices in the Agency RMBS market were influenced by a belief that QE3 monetary policy would end sooner than expected, causing mortgage spreads to widen and pay-ups on call-protected securities to decline," said Gavin James, Chief Executive Officer of Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation. "Given the composition of our portfolio, which reflects our belief that QE3 will continue for the foreseeable future, the moves in asset prices resulted in a decline in book value during the first quarter.  The market has since realized that it was premature in its view of a near-term reduction in QE3, which has resulted in a partial recovery of the book value lost during the first quarter, as spreads have narrowed and pay-ups on call-protected securities have increased since March 31, 2013." 

Stephen Fulton, Chief Investment Officer of Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation, commented, "We believe we are well positioned to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns over an entire interest rate cycle.  We may experience volatility in any one particular quarter during the cycle – as we did during the first quarter – but we expect our overall longer-term results to be very strong.  Since our IPO in May 2012, we have delivered an economic return of 15.5%⁴  on an annualized basis, and we are optimistic that over the entire interest rate cycle, we will be able to meet our goal of generating a consistent dividend for our shareholders while maintaining a stable book value."

There can be no assurance that the Company will attain any investment objective or result.

DIVIDEND

On April 1, 2013, the Company declared a regular dividend of $0.95 per share of common stock with respect to the quarter ended March 31, 2013. Since inception WMC has declared and paid total dividends of $62.9 million or $3.30 a share. 

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION

As of March 31, 2013, the Company owned an aggregate securities portfolio equaling $4.4 billion in market value, comprised of $3.0 billion of 30-year fixed-rate Agency RMBS (residential mortgage-backed securities for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a U.S. Government agency or sponsored entity), $906.5 million of 20-year fixed-rate Agency RMBS, $216.1 million of Non-Agency RMBS (including $66.7 million of linked transactions), and $280.2 million market value of Agency interest-only and inverse interest-only strips (including $80.8 million market value of Agency IO securities accounted for as derivatives).

The following table sets forth additional information regarding the Company's portfolio as of March 31, 2013:

PORTFOLIO FINANCING

At March 31, 2013, the Company financed its portfolio with approximately $4.1 billion of borrowings under master repurchase agreements (including borrowings under linked transactions of $43.9 million) with fourteen (14) counterparties, bearing fixed interest rates with maturities between April 2013 and June 2013. 

The Company has also entered into approximately $2.6 billion notional amount of pay-fixed receive-LIBOR swaps that have variable maturities between October 2014 and December 2033.  As of March 31, 2013 approximately 29% of the notional amount of these positions is forward starting swaps (approximately 7.5 months forward). In addition, the Company has entered into $910 million notional amount of pay-fixed receive-LIBOR swaptions with swap terms that range between 10 and 20 years and have exercise expiration dates that range from April 2013 to October 2013.

The following tables set forth additional information regarding the Company's portfolio financing as of March 31, 2013:

The following tables summarize the average fixed pay rate and average maturity for the Company's interest rate swaps and swaptions as of March 31, 2013:

CONFERENCE CALL

The Company will host a conference call with a live webcast today, May 15, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time/8:00 a.m. Pacific Time, to discuss financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013. 

Individuals interested in participating in the conference call may do so by dialing 800.762.8779 from the United States, or 480.629.9645 from outside the United States and referencing conference ID 4617989. Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the Internet may do so by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.westernassetmcc.com.

A telephone replay will be available through May 29, 2013 by dialing 800.406.7325 from the United States, or 303.590.3030 from outside the United States, and entering conference ID 4617989. A webcast replay will be available for 90 days.

ABOUT WESTERN ASSET MORTGAGE CAPITAL CORPORATION
Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation is a REIT that invests primarily in Agency RMBS, which are residential mortgage-backed securities for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by a U.S. Government agency (such as GNMA) or a U.S. Government-sponsored entity (such as FNMA or FHLMC). The Company also invests opportunistically in its other target assets, which include residential mortgage-backed securities that are not guaranteed by a U.S. Government agency or sponsored entity, commercial mortgage-backed securities and other asset-backed securities. The Company is externally managed and advised by Western Asset Management Company, an investment advisor registered with the SEC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements."  Operating results are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, without limitation, changes in interest rates; changes in the yield curve; changes in prepayment rates; the availability and terms of financing; general economic conditions; market conditions; conditions in the market for mortgage related investments; legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business of the Company; and other factors, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
In addition to the results presented in accordance with GAAP, this release includes certain non-GAAP financial information, including core earnings, core earnings per share and certain financial metrics derived from non-GAAP information, such as weighted average yield, including IO securities; weighted average effective cost of financing, including swaps; weighted average net interest spread, including IO securities and swaps, which constitute  non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the SEC. We believe that these measures presented in this release, when considered together with GAAP financial measures, provide information that is useful to investors in understanding our borrowing costs and net interest income, as viewed by us.  An analysis of any non-GAAP financial measure should be made in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP.

¹ Non – GAAP measure.
² The net book value per share is adjusted for the $0.95 dividend declared on April 1, 2013.
³ Adjusted for the $0.95 dividend declared on April 1, 2013.
⁴ Economic return is annualized and is based on the original $20.00 per share IPO price, adjusted net book value of $19.42 as of March 31, 2013, and $3.30 of cumulative dividends.

-Financial Tables to Follow-

SOURCE Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation

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