SEC Company Response from ADAMAS TRUST, INC. (ADAM, ADAMG, ADAMH, ADAMI, ADAML, ADAMM, ADAMN, ADAMZ) (CIK 0001273685) (ADAM) — Sep 21, 2007
ADAMAS TRUST, INC. (ADAM, ADAMG, ADAMH, ADAMI, ADAML, ADAMM, ADAMN, ADAMZ) (CIK 0001273685)
Date: Sept. 21, 2007 · CIK: 0001273685 · Accession: 0001144204-07-050554
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
File numbers found in text: 001-32216
Referenced dates: July 26, 2007
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CORRESP
1
filename1.htm
September
21, 2007
VIA
EDGAR
Mr.
Kevin
Woody
Branch
Chief
United
States Securities and Exchange Commission
Division
of Corporate Finance
100
F
Street, N.E.
Washington,
D.C. 20549
RE:
New
York Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December
31, 2006
File No.
001-32216
Dear
Mr.
Woody:
This
letter is in response to the comments of the staff (the “Staff”) of the Division
of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”) made in your letter dated July 26, 2007 with respect to the Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 of New York Mortgage
Trust, Inc. (the “Company”).
For
convenience of reference, each Staff comment contained in your letter is
reprinted below in italics, numbered to correspond with the paragraph numbers
assigned in your July 26, 2007 comment letter, and is followed by the
corresponding response of the Company.
Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
Significance
of Estimates and Critical Accounting Policies
Loan
Loss Reserves on Mortgage Loans, page 34
Mr.
Kevin
Woody
Securities
and Exchange Commission
September
21, 2007
Page
2
1. We
note from your disclosure on page 33 that you repurchased a total of $28.9
million of mortgage loans in 2006, that sub-prime and Alternative-A loans
comprised approximately 10% and 26% of your 2006 originations, respectively.
Additionally, we have noted disclosure, in your Form 8-K filed on April 3,
2007,
that repurchases in February and March of 2007 led to an increase in your 2006
loan loss reserves by an additional $782,000. In light of unfavorable market
conditions, recent downgrades of mortgage backed securities by credit agencies,
and the likelihood that climbing interests rates will lead to higher default
rates as ARM and Hybrid ARM reset, please tell us how these negative trends
and
the industry downturn has impacted your impairment analyses and include
discussion of specific assumptions that have changed in connection with
performing these analyses. In your response, please address both loan
repurchases as well as loans held for the purpose of generating net interest
income. Finally, please tell us the amount of loans, if any, that you have
been
required to repurchase related to your origination business subsequent to your
most recent periodic filing.
RESPONSE:
The
Company notes the Staff’s comment and directs the Staff to the following
disclosures, each as set forth in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q
for the period ended June 30, 2007:
Note
1 to
the Consolidated Financial Statements (page 8):
“Loan
Loss Reserves on Mortgage Loans Held in Securitization Trusts--
We establish a reserve for loan losses based on management's judgment and
estimate of credit losses inherent in our portfolio of mortgage loans held
in
securitization trusts.
Estimation
involves the consideration of various credit-related factors including but
not
limited to, macro-economic conditions, the current housing market conditions,
loan-to-value ratios, delinquency status, historical credit loss severity rates,
purchased mortgage insurance, the borrower's credit and other factors deemed
to
warrant consideration. Additionally, we look at the balance of any delinquent
loan and compare that to the value of the property. If there is a doubt as
to
the objectivity of the original property value assessment, or if the loan is
seasoned or in an area deemed to be declining in value, we utilize various
internet based property data services to look at comparable properties in the
same area or consult with a realtor in the property's area.
Comparing
the current loan balance to the property value determines the current
loan-to-value (“LTV”) ratio of the loan. Generally, we estimate that a first
lien loan on a property that goes into a foreclosure process and becomes real
estate owned (“REO”), results in the property being disposed of at approximately
68% of the property's original value. This estimate is based on management's
long term experience in similar market conditions. It is possible however that
given today's deteriorating market conditions, we may realize less than that
return in certain cases. Thus, for a first lien loan that is delinquent, we
will
adjust the property value down to approximately 68% of the original property
value and compare that to the current balance of the loan. The difference,
plus
an estimate of past interest due, determines the base reserve taken for that
loan. This base reserve for a particular loan may be adjusted if we are aware
of
specific circumstances that may affect the outcome of the loss mitigation
process for that loan. Predominately, however, we use the base reserve number
for our reserve.
Mr.
Kevin
Woody
Securities
and Exchange Commission
September
21, 2007
Page
3
At
June 30, 2007, we had a loan loss reserve of $0.9 million on mortgage loans
held
in securitization trusts.”
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
(Page
44):
“Loan
Loss Reserves on Mortgage Loans--
We evaluate a reserve for loan losses based on management's judgment and
estimate of credit losses inherent in our portfolio of mortgage loans held
for
sale and mortgage loans held in securitization trusts.
Estimation
involves the consideration of various credit-related factors including but
not
limited to, the current housing market conditions, loan-to-value ratios,
delinquency status, historical credit loss severity rates, purchased mortgage
insurance, the borrower's credit and other factors deemed to warrant
consideration. Additionally, we look at the balance of any delinquent loan
and
compare that to the value of the property. As many of the loans involved in
current reserve process were funded in the past six to twelve months, we
typically rely on the original appraised value of the property, unless there
is
evidence that the original appraisal should not be relied upon. If there is
a
doubt to the objectivity of the original property value assessment, we either
utilize various internet based property data services to look at comparable
properties in the same area, or consult with a realtor in the property's
area.
Comparing
the current loan balance to the original property value determines the current
loan-to-value (“LTV”) ratio of the loan. Generally we estimate that a first lien
loan on a property that goes into a foreclosure process and becomes real estate
owned (“REO”), results in the property being disposed of at approximately 68% of
the property's original value. This estimate is based on management's long
term
experience in similar market conditions. Thus, for a first lien loan that is
delinquent, we will adjust the property value down to approximately 68% of
the
original property value and compare that to the current balance of the loan.
The
difference, plus an estimate of past interest due, determines the base reserve
taken for that loan. This base reserve for a particular loan may be adjusted
if
we are aware of specific circumstances that may affect the outcome of the loss
mitigation process for that loan. Predominately, however, we use the base
reserve number for our reserve.
Reserves
for second liens are larger than that for first liens as second liens are in
a
junior position and only receive proceeds after the claims of the first lien
holder are satisfied. As with first liens, we may occasionally alter the base
reserve calculation but that is in a minority of the cases and only if we are
aware of specific circumstances that pertain to that specific loan.”
Mr.
Kevin
Woody
Securities
and Exchange Commission
September
21, 2007
Page
4
Since
the Company reported its second quarter 2007 operating results, it has continued
to negotiate settlements pertaining to loan repurchase requests for loans
originated by its discontinued mortgage lending business. As of September 5,
2007, the Company has settled approximately 77% of all repurchase requests
that
were outstanding as of August 6, 2007, the date on which second quarter 2007
operating results were reported. Since the Company’s most recent
periodic
filing, the Company has received one new loan repurchase request for a single
loan with an original principal balance of $178,000.
Financial
Statements
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows, page F-7
2. We
note that dividends paid have exceeded net cash provided by (used in) operating
activities during two of the three periods provided in your consolidated
statements of cash flows. Please discuss the source(s) of these excess
distributions, within the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of your
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations, as dividends in excess of net cash provided by operating activities
raise concerns about the sustainability of dividend distributions into the
future.
RESPONSE:
The
Company notes the Staff’s comment and advises the Staff that it will in the
future discuss the source(s) of excess distributions, if any, in its periodic
filings with the Commission. The Company has funded excess distributions in
the
past with from working capital. In addition, the Company directs the Staff
to
the following disclosures, each as set forth in the Company’s quarterly report
on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2007:
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -
Liquidity and Capital Resources (Page 60):
“Liquidity
is a measure of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including
ongoing commitments to repay borrowings, fund and maintain investments, pay
dividends to our stockholders and other general business needs. We recognize
the
need to have funds available for our operating businesses and our investment
portfolio. We plan to meet liquidity through normal operations with the goal
of
avoiding unplanned sales of assets or emergency borrowing of funds…
…On
July 3, 2007, the Company's board of directors elected to omit a dividend for
the 2007 second quarter. The board of director's decision reflected the
Company's focus on elimination of operating losses through the sale of the
mortgage lending businesses with a view to conserving capital to build future
earnings from our portfolio management operations. The Company's board of
directors will continue to evaluate the Company's dividend policy each
quarter and will make adjustments as necessary, based on a variety of factors,
including, among other things, the Company's financial condition, liquidity,
earnings projections and business prospects. Our dividend policy does not
constitute an obligation to pay dividends, which only occurs when the board
of
directors declares a dividend. Including this omitted dividend, during the
six
months ended June 30, 2007, we distributed approximately $1.8 million in common
stock dividends….”
Mr.
Kevin
Woody
Securities
and Exchange Commission
September
21, 2007
Page
5
Part
II,
Item 1A - Risk Factors (page 71):
“We
have not established a minimum dividend payment level for our common
stockholders and there are no assurances of our ability to pay dividends to
them
in the future.
We
intend to pay quarterly dividends and to make distributions to our common
stockholders in amounts such that all or substantially all of our taxable income
in each year, subject to certain adjustments, is distributed. This, along with
other factors, should enable us to qualify for the tax benefits accorded to
a
REIT under the Code. We have not established a minimum dividend payment level
for our common stockholders and our ability to pay dividends may be harmed
by
the risk factors described in this annual report on Form 10-K. On July 3, 2007,
our board of directors elected to omit declaring and paying a dividend to common
stockholders for the 2007 second quarter. The board of directors' decision
reflected the company's focus on elimination of operating losses through
the sole of our mortgage lending business with a view to conserving capital
to
build future earnings from our portfolio management operations. All
distributions to our common stockholders will be made at the discretion of
our
board of directors and will depend on our earnings, our financial condition,
maintenance of our REIT status and such other factors as our board of directors
may deem relevant from time to time. There are no assurances of our ability
to
pay dividends in the future.”
Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies
Mortgage
Loans Held in Securitization Trusts, page F-10
3. We
note from your disclosure that your fourth securitization in March 2006 (unlike
the first three that were treated as financings) was treated as a sale for
accounting purposes. Please tell us how you met all of the criteria in paragraph
9 of SFAS 140 in order to qualify for sales treatment. Additionally, please
provide the disclosures required by paragraph 17h of SFAS 140, including
disclosure of the gain or loss from the sale of assets in
securitizations.
RESPONSE:
Paragraph
9 of SFAS 140 provides that:
A
transfer of financial assets (or all or a portion of a financial asset) in
which
the transferor surrenders control over those financial assets shall be accounted
for as a sale to the extent that consideration other than beneficial
interests in
the
transferred assets is received in exchange. The transferor has surrendered
control over transferred assets if and only if all
of the following conditions are
met:
a.
The
transferred assets have been isolated from the transferor—put
presumptively beyond the reach of the transferor and its creditors,
even
in bankruptcy or other
receivership.
b.
Each
transferee (or, if the tra