UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

May 22, 2009

 

CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


 

 

 

Maryland

1-33796

26-0630461




(State or Other Jurisdiction

(Commission

(IRS Employer

of Incorporation)

File Number)

Identification No.)


 

 

 

1211 Avenue of the Americas

 

Suite 2902

 

New York, New York

    10036

 



(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (866) 315-9930

 

No Change


(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

 

 

On May 27, 2009, Chimera Investment Corporation (the “Company”) entered into an underwriting agreement with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. as representatives of the several underwriters (collectively, the “Underwriters”), relating to the sale of 168,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and the granting of an over-allotment option for an additional 25,200,000 shares of Common Stock to the Underwriters solely to fulfill over-allotments (the “Public Offering”). The Public Offering is expected to close on June 2, 2009.

 

 

 

The aggregate net proceeds of the Public Offering, excluding the proceeds the Company may obtain from the exercise of the over-allotment option, to the Company (after deducting estimated expenses) are estimated to be approximately $519 million.

 

 

  A copy of the underwriting agreement is attached as an exhibit to this report.

 

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

 

 

On May 27, 2009, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (“Annaly”) relating to the sale for cash of 4,724,017 shares of Common Stock of the Company to Annaly at a price of $3.22 per share. The aggregate net proceeds of the Common Stock sale to the Company are estimated to be approximately $15.2 million. The sale to Annaly is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.

 

 

 

The Common Stock sale is contingent on the closing of the Public Offering and will close immediately after the closing of Public Offering, which is expected to close on June 2, 2009.

 

 

 

A copy of the stock purchase agreement is attached as an exhibit to this report.

 

 

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

 

 

On May 22, 2009, the Company filed an amendment to its articles of incorporation (the “Articles of Amendment”) with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. The Articles of Amendment were approved by the requisite vote of the Company’s board of directors on May 19, 2009 and were effective May 22, 2009. The Company’s board of directors, without any action by the stockholders of the Company, may amend the Company’s articles of incorporation from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that the Company has authority to issue.

 

 

 

The Company’s articles of incorporation previously allowed the Company to issue up to a total of 550,000,000 shares of capital stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of May 22, 2009, the Company had 472,401,769 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. To retain the ability to issue additional shares of capital stock, the Company has increased the number of shares it is authorized to issue to 1,100,000,000 shares of stock, consisting



 

 

 

 

 

of 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share.

 

 

 

 

A copy of the Articles of Amendment is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this report and incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

 

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

 

 

 

(a) Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

(b) Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

(c) Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

(d) Exhibits:

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.1

Underwriting Agreement, dated May 27, 2009, between Chimera Investment Corporation and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. as representatives of the several underwriters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.2

Stock Purchase Agreement, dated May 27, 2009, between Chimera Investment Corporation and Annaly Capital Management, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

Articles of Amendment of Chimera Investment Corporation.



SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

Chimera Investment Corporation

 

 

 

 

By:

   /s/ A. Alexandra Denahan

 

 


 

 

   Name: A. Alexandra Denahan

 

 

   Title: Chief Financial Officer

Date: May 27, 2009


EXECUTION VERSION

CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION

168,000,000 Shares
Common Stock
($0.01 Par Value)

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

May 27, 2009


UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

May 27, 2009

 

MERRILL LYNCH & CO.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                    Incorporated

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

          As Representatives of the several Underwriters,

 

c/o Merrill Lynch & Co.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                    Incorporated

4 World Financial Center

New York, New York 10080

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                    Chimera Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes to issue and sell to the underwriters named in Schedule A annexed hereto (the “ Underwriters ”), for whom Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“ Merrill Lynch ”), Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. are acting as representatives, an aggregate of 168,000,000 shares (the “ Firm Shares ”) of common stock, $0.01 par value (the “ Common Stock ”), of the Company. In addition, solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, the Company proposes to grant to the Underwriters the option to purchase from the Company up to an additional 25,200,000 shares of Common Stock (the “ Additional Shares ”). The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter collectively sometimes referred to as the “ Shares .” The Shares are described in the Prospectus which is referred to below.

                    The Company has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “ Securities Act ”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-159468), as amended, including a base prospectus, with respect to the Shares, and which incorporates by reference documents which the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “ Exchange Act ”), which registration statement became effective upon filing under Rule 462(e) of the Securities Act. Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a prospectus supplement (the “ Prospectus Supplement ”) to the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement setting forth the terms of the offering, sale and


plan of distribution of the Shares and additional information concerning the Company and its business. The Company has furnished to Merrill Lynch, for use by the Underwriters and by dealers, copies of one or more preliminary prospectuses, containing the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by a preliminary Prospectus Supplement, and including the documents incorporated in such base prospectus by reference (each, a “ Preliminary Prospectus ”), relating to the Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, as amended when it became effective, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act (the “ Securities Act Regulations ”), collectively, are herein called the “ Registration Statement .” The base prospectus, including all documents incorporated by reference therein, included in the Registration Statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and Rule 430B under the Securities Act on or before the second Business Day (as defined below) following the date of this Agreement (or on such other day as the parties may mutually agree), is herein called the “ Prospectus .” The Registration Statement at the time it originally became effective is herein called the “ Original Registration Statement .” The information included in such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 430B is referred to as “ Rule 430B Information .” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System (“ EDGAR ”), and such copy shall be identical in content to any Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Shares.

                    All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by Securities Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

                    The Company and the Underwriters agree as follows:

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                    1. Sale and Purchase . Upon the basis of the warranties and representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Firm Shares to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company the respective number of Firm Shares (subject to such adjustment as Merrill Lynch may determine to avoid fractional shares) set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A annexed hereto at a purchase price of $3.0912 per Share. The Company is advised by Merrill Lynch that the Underwriters intend (i) to make a public offering of the Shares as soon as the Underwriters deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered and (ii) initially to offer the Firm Shares upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus. The Underwriters may from time to time increase or decrease the public offering price after the initial public offering to such extent as they may determine.

                    In addition, the Company hereby grants to the several Underwriters the option to purchase, and upon the basis of the warranties and representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Company ratably in accordance with the number of Firm Shares to be purchased by each of them (subject to such adjustment as Merrill Lynch shall determine to avoid fractional shares), all or a portion of the Additional Shares as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares, at the same purchase price per share to be paid by the Underwriters to the Company for the Firm Shares. This option may be exercised by Merrill Lynch on behalf of the several Underwriters at any time and from time to time on or before the thirtieth day following the date hereof, by written notice to the Company. Each such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when Additional Shares are to be delivered (any such date and time being herein referred to as an “ additional time of purchase ”); provided, however , that an additional time of purchase shall not be (i) earlier than the time of purchase (as defined below) or (ii) later than the tenth Business Day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised. The number of Additional Shares to be sold to each Underwriter shall be the number which bears the same proportion to the aggregate number of Additional Shares being purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule A hereto bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares (subject, in each case, to such adjustment as Merrill Lynch may determine to eliminate fractional shares). As used herein “ Business Day ” shall mean a day on which the New York Stock Exchange (the “ NYSE ”) is open for trading and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business.

                    2. Payment and Delivery . Payment of the purchase price for the Firm Shares shall be made to the Company by federal funds wire transfer against delivery of the certificates for the Firm Shares to Merrill Lynch through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) for the respective accounts of the Underwriters. Such payment and delivery shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on June 2, 2009 (unless another time shall be agreed to by Merrill Lynch and the Company or unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 hereof). The time at which any such payment and delivery are actually made is herein sometimes called the “ time of purchase .” Certificates for the Firm Shares shall be delivered to Merrill Lynch, through the facilities of DTC, in definitive form in such names and in such denominations as Merrill Lynch shall specify no later than the second Business Day preceding the time of purchase. For the purpose of expediting the checking of the certificates for

3


the Firm Shares by Merrill Lynch, the Company agrees to make such certificates available to Merrill Lynch for such purpose at least one full Business Day preceding the time of purchase.

                    Payment of the purchase price for Additional Shares shall be made at each additional time of purchase in the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Firm Shares. Certificates for Additional Shares shall be delivered to Merrill Lynch, through the facilities of DTC, in definitive form in such names and in such denominations as Merrill Lynch shall specify no later than the second Business Day preceding each additional time of purchase. For the purpose of expediting the checking of the certificates for Additional Shares by Merrill Lynch, the Company agrees to make such certificates available to Merrill Lynch for such purpose at least one full Business Day preceding each additional time of purchase.

                    3. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time referred to in Section 3(c) , as of the time of purchase and, if applicable, at each additional time of purchase that:

                    (a) (1) At the time of filing the Original Registration Statement, (2) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or otherwise (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (3) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Shares in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 of the Securities Act and (4) at the date hereof, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act (“ Rule 405 ”), including not having been and not being an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405, and the Shares, since their registration on the Registration Statement, have been and remain eligible for registration by the Company on a Rule 405 “automatic shelf registration statement”. The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to the use of the automatic shelf registration statement form.

                    At the time of filing the Original Registration Statement, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act) of the Shares and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405.

                    (b) The Original Registration Statement became effective upon filing under Rule 462(e) of the Securities Act on May 23, 2006 and any post-effective amendment thereto and also became effective upon filing under Rule 462(e). The Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission and has been deemed effective under the Securities Act. The Company has not received, and has no notice of, any order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or threatening or instituting proceedings for that purpose. Any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement have been so described or filed. The

4


Prospectus has been or will be so prepared and will be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act on or before the second Business Day following the date of this Agreement or on such other day as the parties may mutually agree. The Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act. Copies of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, any such amendments or supplements and all documents incorporated by reference therein that were filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement (including one fully executed copy of each of the Registration Statement and of each amendment thereto for the Underwriters) have been delivered to the Underwriters and their counsel. The Company has not distributed any offering material in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses (as defined below) or any other materials, if any, permitted by the Securities Act.

                    (c) Each part of the Registration Statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, when such part became effective and at each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) of the Securities Act or was or is filed with the Commission, and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, on the date of filing thereof with the Commission and at the time of purchase and, if applicable, at each additional time of purchase, conformed or will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act. Each part of the Registration Statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, when such part became or becomes effective or was or is filed with the Commission, did not or will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at their respective times of issuance and at the time of purchase and, if applicable, at each additional time of purchase, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the foregoing shall not apply to statements in, or omissions from, any such document in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information concerning the Underwriters that was furnished in writing to the Company by Merrill Lynch, on behalf of the several Underwriters, specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

                    (d) As of the Applicable Time neither (x) the Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the information included on Schedule C hereto and the Statutory Prospectus (as defined below) as of the Applicable Time, all considered together (collectively, the “ General Disclosure Package ”), nor (y) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

                    As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:

                    “ Applicable Time ” means 7:30 A.M. (Eastern time) on May 28, 2009 or such other time as agreed by the Company and Merrill Lynch.

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                    “ Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (“ Rule 433 ”), relating to the Shares that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) is a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) whether or not required to be filed with the Commission or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Shares or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

                    “ Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by it being specified in Schedule B hereto.

                    “ Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

                    “ Statutory Prospectus ” as of any time means the prospectus relating to the Shares that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, including any document incorporated by reference therein.

                    Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Shares or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies Merrill Lynch as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified.

                    The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use therein.

                    (e) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, when they were or are filed with the Commission under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, conformed or will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, (i) at the time the Original Registration Statement became effective, (ii) at the earlier of time the Prospectus was first used and the date and time of the first contract of sale of Shares in this offering and (iii) at the Applicable Time, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

                    (f) The consolidated financial statements of the Company, together with the related schedules and notes thereto, set forth or included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus are accurate in all

6


material respects and fairly present the financial condition of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of operations, changes in financial position, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods therein specified are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise stated therein). The selected financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and, to the extent based upon or derived from the financial statements, have been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein. No other financial statements are required to be set forth or to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus under the Securities Act.

                    (g) The Preliminary Prospectus was, and the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering will be, identical to the versions of the Preliminary Prospectus, Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package, respectively, created to be transmitted to the Commission for filing via EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

                    (h) The Company has been duly formed and incorporated and is existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or assets or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, prospects, financial condition or results of operation of the Company taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”), and has full corporate power and authority necessary to own, hold, lease and/or operate its assets and properties, to conduct the business in which it is engaged and as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company is in compliance in all material respects with the laws, orders, rules, regulations and directives issued or administered by such jurisdictions.

                    (i) The Company has no “significant subsidiaries” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act) and, except for the equity of Chimera Securities Holdings, LLC, does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation or have any equity interest in any firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity. Complete and correct copies of the articles of incorporation and of the bylaws of the Company and all amendments thereto have been delivered to Merrill Lynch and, except as set forth in the exhibits to, or incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement, no changes therein will be made subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the time of purchase or, if applicable, each additional time of purchase.

                    (j) The Company is not in breach of, or in default under (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time, or both would result in any breach of, or constitute a default under), (i) its articles of incorporation or bylaws or (ii) any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, license, repurchase agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it or any of its assets or properties may be bound or affected, the effect of

7


which breach or default under this clause (ii) could have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not conflict with, or result in any breach of, constitute a default under or a Repayment Event (as defined below) under (nor constitute any event which with notice, lapse of time, or both would result in any breach of, constitute a default under or a Repayment Event under), (i) any provision of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, (ii) any provision of any contract, license, repurchase agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its assets or properties may be bound or affected, the effect of which could have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment or order applicable to the Company. As used herein, a “ Repayment Event ” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any subsidiary.

                    (k) As of March 31, 2009, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the time of purchase, the Company had, has or will have an authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth under the headings “Actual,” “As Adjusted for the April 2009 offering” and “As Adjusted for the April 2009 offering and this offering,” respectively, in the section of the Prospectus Supplement entitled “Capitalization.” All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock, including the Common Stock of the Company, have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right.

                    (l) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

                    (m) The management agreement (the “ Management Agreement ”), entered into between the Company and Fixed Income Discount Advisory Company (the “ Manager ”) on November 21, 2007, as amended on October 13, 2008 and October 19, 2008, has been duly authorized by the Company, and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights or by general equitable principles.

                    (n) The stock purchase agreement (the “ Stock Purchase Agreement ”), to be entered into prior to the time of purchase between the Company and Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (“ Annaly ”) relating to the sale of the Company’s Common Stock to Annaly (the “ Annaly Sale ”) has been duly authorized by the Company, and when executed and delivered, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights or by general equitable principles.

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                    (o) The capital stock of the Company, including the Shares, conforms and will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same. The certificates for the Shares are in due and proper form and the holders of the Shares will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.

                    (p) The Shares have been duly and validly authorized by the Company for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, and will be registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

                    (q) No approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any national, state or local governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency is required in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Company of the transaction contemplated hereby other than (i) registration of the Shares under the Securities Act, (ii) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Shares are being offered by the Underwriters, or (iii) such approvals as have been obtained in connection with the approval of the listing of the Shares on the NYSE.

                    (r) No person, as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act (each, a “ Person ”), has the right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the Company to issue to it any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company upon the issue and sale of the Shares to the Underwriters hereunder, nor does any Person have preemptive rights, co-sale rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase or subscribe for any of the Shares or any securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell any of, the Shares or any options, rights or convertible securities or obligations, other than those that have been expressly waived prior to the date hereof.

                    (s) Deloitte & Touche LLP (the “ Accountants ”), whose report on the financial statements of the Company is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, are and, during the periods covered by their reports, were independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act.

                    (t) The Company has all necessary licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals and has made all necessary filings required under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule, and has obtained all necessary permits, authorizations, consents and approvals from other Persons, in order to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, except as such as could not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not required by any applicable law to obtain accreditation or certification from any governmental agency or authority in order to provide the products and services which it currently provides or which it proposes to provide as set forth in the Prospectus except as such as could not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not in violation of, or in default under, any such license, permit, authorization, consent or approval or any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or

9


rule or any decree, order or judgment applicable to the Company, the effect of which could have a Material Adverse Effect.

                    (u) The descriptions in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus of the legal or governmental proceedings, contracts, leases and other legal documents therein described present fairly the information required to be shown, and there are no legal or governmental proceedings, contracts, leases, or other documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which are not described or filed as required. All agreements between the Company and third parties expressly referenced in the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.

                    (v) There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations, inquiries or proceedings pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened to which the Company or any of its officers or directors is a party or of which any of its properties or other assets is subject at law or in equity, or before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency which could result in a judgment, decree or order having a Material Adverse Effect.

                     (w) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package (including as of the Applicable Time), and the Prospectus, there has not been (i) any material adverse change, or any development which would reasonably be expected to cause a material adverse change, in the business, properties or assets described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus, or the results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), net worth, business, prospects or operations of the Company taken as a whole, (ii) other than the Annaly Sale, any transaction which is material to the Company, except transactions in the ordinary course of business, (iii) any obligation, direct or contingent, which is material to the Company taken as a whole, incurred by the Company, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) other than the Annaly Sale, any change in the capital stock or, except in the ordinary course of business, outstanding indebtedness of the Company, or (v) except for regular quarterly dividends on Common Stock in a manner consistent with past practice, any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock. The Company has no material contingent obligation which is not disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus.

                    (x) There are no Persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities, including securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities, registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the Securities Act.

                    (y) The Company (i) does not have any issued or outstanding preferred stock or (ii) has not defaulted on any installment on indebtedness for borrowed money or on any rental

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on one or more long term leases, which defaults would have a Material Adverse Effect on the financial position of the Company.

                    (z) Each of the Company and its officers, directors and controlling Persons has not, directly or indirectly, (i) taken any action designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale of the Shares, or (ii) except pursuant to the Annaly Sale and pursuant to this Agreement) (A) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of, the Shares or (B) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company.

                    (aa) The Shares have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to official notice of issuance.

                    (bb) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (i) is required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Act or (ii) directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or has any other association with (within the meaning of Article I of the Bylaws of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”)) any member firm of the FINRA.

                    (cc) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company delivered to Merrill Lynch or to counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

                    (dd) As of the date of this Agreement, the Company has no plan or intention to materially alter its capital investment policy or investment allocation strategy, both as described in the Prospectus. The Company has good and marketable title to all of the properties and assets owned by it, in each case free and clear of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects (except for any security interest, lien, encumbrance or claim that may otherwise exist under any applicable repurchase agreement), except such as do not have a Material Adverse Effect and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property or asset by the Company, and except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package. The Company owns no real property. Any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company are held under valid, existing and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are disclosed in the Prospectus or are not material and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company.

                     (ee) The Company has filed all federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed on or prior to the date hereof and has paid taxes shown as due thereon (or that are otherwise due and payable), other than taxes which are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company has no knowledge, after due inquiry, of any tax deficiency which has been asserted or threatened against the Company. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no tax returns of the Company that are currently being audited by federal, state or local taxing authorities or agencies which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

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                    (ff) The Company owns or possesses adequate license or other rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, software and design licenses, trade secrets, manufacturing processes, other intangible property rights and know-how (collectively, “ Intangibles ”) necessary to entitle the Company to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and the Company has not received notice of infringement of or conflict with (and the Company knows of no such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any Intangibles which could have a Material Adverse Effect.

                    (gg) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

                    (hh) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to perform the functions for which they were established; any significant material weaknesses in internal controls have been identified for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer; and since the date of the most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls.

                    (ii) The Company is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the business in which it is engaged. The Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

                    (jj) The Company is not in violation, and has not received notice of any violation with respect to, any applicable environmental, safety or similar law applicable to the business of the Company. The Company has received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable federal and state occupational safety and health and environmental laws and regulations to conduct its business, and the Company is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except any such violation of law or regulation, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals which could not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

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                    (kk) The Company has not incurred any liability for any finder’s fees or similar payments in connection with the transactions herein contemplated, except as may otherwise exist with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement.

                    (ll) There are no existing or threatened labor disputes with the employees of the Company which are likely to have individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect.

                    (mm) Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any employee or agent of the Company, has made any payment of funds of the Company or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation or of a character required to be disclosed in the Prospectus. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers and stockholders of the Company, on the other hand, which is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that is not so described.

                    (nn) The Company, since its date of inception, has been, and upon the sale of the Shares will continue to be, organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a “real estate investment trust” (a “ REIT ”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, the “ Code ”), for all taxable years commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2007. The proposed method of operation of the Company as described in the Prospectus will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and no actions have been taken (or not taken which are required to be taken) which would cause such qualification to be lost. The Company intends to continue to operate in a manner which would permit it to qualify as a REIT under the Code. The Company has no intention of changing its operations or engaging in activities which would cause it to fail to qualify, or make economically undesirable its continued qualification, as a REIT.

                    (oo) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares, will not be an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”).

                    (pp) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders or directors of the Company, on the other hand, which is required by the rules of the FINRA to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus which is not so described.

                    (qq) The Company has not, directly or indirectly, including through any subsidiary, extended credit, arranged to extend credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the Company, or to or for any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the Company.

                    (rr) Neither the Company nor any of the subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or the subsidiaries has made any payment of funds of the Company or the subsidiaries or received or retained any funds in violation of any

13


law, rule or regulation, which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

                    (ss) The Company is in compliance with all presently applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”) and is actively taking steps to ensure that it will be in compliance with other applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act upon the effectiveness of such provisions.

                    (tt) The Registration Statement is not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act, and the Company is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Shares.

                    4. Representations and Warranties of the Manager . The Manager represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time, as of the time of purchase and, if applicable, at each additional time of purchase that:

                    (a) The information regarding the Manager set forth under the headings (i) “Prospectus Supplement Summary – Our Manager” in the Prospectus, and (ii) “Business – Our Manager”, “Business – The Management Agreement”, “Risk Factors – Risks Associated With our Management and Relationship With our Manager”, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Management Agreement and Related Party Transactions – Management Agreement” in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement (collectively, the “ Manager Package ”) is true and correct in all material respects.

                    (b) The Manager has been duly formed and incorporated and is existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or assets or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and has full corporate power and authority necessary to own, hold, lease and/or operate its assets and properties, to conduct the business in which it is engaged and as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Management Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company is in compliance in all material respects with the laws, orders, rules, regulations and directives issued or administered by such jurisdictions.

                    (c) This Agreement and the transactions contemplated to be consummated by the Manager in this Agreement and the Prospectus have been duly and validly authorized by the Manager and this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Manager.

                    (d) The Management Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Manager and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Manager enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights or by general equitable principles.

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                    (e) The Manager is not in breach of, or in default under (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time, or both would result in any breach of, or constitute a default under), (i) its certificate of incorporation or bylaws or (ii) any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, license, repurchase agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Manager is a party or by which it or any of its assets or properties may be bound or affected, the effect of which breach or default under this clause (ii) could have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not conflict with, or result in any breach of or constitute a default under (nor constitute any event which with notice, lapse of time, or both would result in any breach of or constitute a default under), (i) any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Manager, (ii) any provision of any contract, license, repurchase agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Manager is a party or by which the Manager or any of its assets or properties may be bound or affected, the effect of which could have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment or order applicable to the Manager.

                    (f) (A) No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, (B) no authorization, approval, vote or other consent of any stockholder or creditor of the Manager and (C) no waiver or consent under any contract, license, repurchase agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Manager is a party or by which the Manager or any of its assets or properties may be bound or affected, and (D) no authorization, approval, vote or other consent of any other person or entity, is necessary or required for the performance by the Manager of its obligations under this Agreement or the Management Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, in each case on the terms contemplated by the Prospectus, except such as have been already obtained.

                    (g) The Manager has all necessary licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals and has made all necessary filings required under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule, and has obtained all necessary permits, authorizations, consents and approvals from other Persons, in order to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, except as such as could not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Manager is not required by any applicable law to obtain accreditation or certification from any governmental agency or authority in order to provide the products and services which it currently provides or which it proposes to provide as set forth in the Prospectus except as such as could not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Manager is not in violation of, or in default under, any such license, permit, authorization, consent or approval or any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, order or judgment applicable to the Manager, the effect of which could have a Material Adverse Effect.

                    (h) There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations, inquiries or proceedings pending or, to the best of the Manager’s knowledge, threatened to which the Manager or any of its officers or directors is a party or of which any of its properties or other assets is subject at law

15


or in equity, or before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency which could result in a judgment, decree or order having a Material Adverse Effect.

                    (i) The Manager is not prohibited by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or the rules and regulations thereunder, from performing under the Management Agreement as contemplated by the Management Agreement and the Prospectus.

                    5. Certain Covenants of the Company . The Company hereby covenants and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:

                    (a) The Company will furnish such information as may be required and otherwise will cooperate in qualifying the Shares for offering and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions (both domestic and foreign) as Merrill Lynch may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares, provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to consent to the service of process under the laws of any such jurisdiction (except service of process with respect to the offering and sale of the Shares). The Company will promptly advise Merrill Lynch of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

                    (b) The Company will prepare the Prospectus in a form in compliance with Rule 430B and approved by the Underwriters and file such Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time), on or before the second Business Day following the date of this Agreement or on such other day as the parties may mutually agree and to furnish promptly (and with respect to the initial delivery of such Prospectus, not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on or before the second Business Day following the date of this Agreement or on such other day as the parties may mutually agree) to the Underwriters copies of the Prospectus (or of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have made any amendments or supplements thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement) in such quantities and at such locations as the Underwriters may reasonably request for the purposes contemplated by the Securities Act, which the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the version created to be transmitted to the Commission for filing via EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

                    (c) The Company will advise Merrill Lynch immediately, confirming such advice in writing, of (i) the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to any filing of the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, (ii) any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information with respect thereto, (iii) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement, (iv) the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, (v) the initiation, threatening or contemplation of any proceedings for any of such purposes and, if the

16


Commission or any other governmental agency or authority should issue any such order, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain the lifting or removal of such order as soon as possible. The Company will advise Merrill Lynch promptly of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including by filing any documents that would be incorporated by reference therein, and will furnish Merrill Lynch with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which Merrill Lynch or counsel for the Underwriters shall object in writing. The Company has given Merrill Lynch notice of any filings made pursuant to the Exchange Act within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time; the Company will give Merrill Lynch notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time to the time of purchase and, if applicable, each additional time of purchase, and will furnish the Merrill Lynch with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which Merrill Lynch or counsel for the Underwriters shall object in writing.

                    (d) The Company will advise Merrill Lynch promptly and, if requested by Merrill Lynch, will confirm such advice in writing when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act.

                    (e) The Company will furnish to Merrill Lynch and, upon request, to each of the other Underwriters for a period of five years from the date of this Agreement (i) copies of any reports or other communications which the Company shall send to its stockholders or shall from time to time publish or publicly disseminate, (ii) copies of all annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, or such other similar form as may be designated by the Commission, (iii) copies of documents or reports filed with any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed, and (iv) such other information as Merrill Lynch may reasonably request regarding the Company, in each case as soon as such communications, documents or information become available.

                    (f) The Company will advise the Underwriters promptly of the happening of any event known to the Company within the time during which a Prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act which would require the making of any change in the Prospectus then being used, or in the information incorporated by reference therein, so that the Prospectus would not include an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law. If within the time during which a Prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act any event shall occur or condition shall exist which, in the reasonable opinion of the Company, Merrill Lynch or their respective counsel, would require the making of any change in the Prospectus then being used, or in the information incorporated by reference therein, so that the Prospectus would not include an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company will promptly prepare and furnish to the Underwriters copies of the proposed amendment or supplement before filing any such amendment or supplement with the Commission and thereafter promptly furnish,

17


at the Company’s own expense, to the Underwriters and to dealers copies in such quantities and at such locations as Merrill Lynch may from time to time reasonably request of an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with the law. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement relating to the Shares or the Statutory Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify Merrill Lynch and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

                    (g) The Company will make generally available to its stockholders as soon as practicable, and in the manner contemplated by Rule 158 of the Securities Act but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period beginning after the date upon which the Prospectus is filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder and will advise the Underwriters in writing when such statement has been made available.

                    (h) The Company will furnish to Merrill Lynch a signed copy of the Registration Statement, as initially filed with the Commission and of all amendments thereto (including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and such number of conformed copies of the foregoing (other than exhibits) as Merrill Lynch may reasonably request.

                    (i) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares in the manner set forth under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.

                    (j) The Company will furnish to Merrill Lynch, not less than two Business Days before a filing with the Commission during the period referred to in subsection (f) above, a copy of any document proposed to be filed pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and during such period will file all such documents in a manner and within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.

                    (k) The Company will not sell, offer, contract to sell, pledge, register, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock, or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, exchangeable or redeemable for shares of capital stock, except for the sales to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and except for issuances of Common Stock upon the exercise of outstanding options, for a period of 90 days after the date hereof, without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (i) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (ii) any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of an option outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Prospectus, (iii) any shares of Common Stock sold by the Company pursuant to the Stock

18


Purchase Agreement, (iv) the grant of restricted stock or other awards pursuant to the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan as exists on the date hereof or issuances pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or other awards outstanding on the date hereof, (v) the payment by any grantee of any shares of restricted stock or other awards pursuant to the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan as exists on the date hereof of any withholding or other taxes relating to such shares through or by means of the cancellation of a portion of such shares, or (vi) any shares of Common Stock sold by the Company pursuant to any dividend reinvestment and share purchase plan once adopted by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the 90-day restricted period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results or becomes aware that material news or a material event will occur during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day restricted period, the restrictions imposed in this subsection (k) shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event.

                    (l) The Company will use its best efforts to cause Annaly, each of the Company’s officers and directors and certain members of the senior management of Annaly to furnish to Merrill Lynch, prior to the time of purchase, a letter or letters, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, pursuant to which each such person shall agree, subject to certain exceptions set forth therein, not to sell, offer, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock, or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, exchangeable or redeemable for shares of capital stock of the Company for a period of 90 days after the date hereof, without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch.

                    (m) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Shares to be listed on the NYSE and to maintain such listing and to file with the NYSE all documents and notices required by the NYSE of companies that have securities that are listed on the NYSE.

                    (n) The Company will maintain and keep accurate books and records reflecting their assets and maintain internal accounting controls which provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and to maintain accountability for the assets of the Company, (iii) access to the assets of the Company is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization and (iv) the recorded accounts of the assets of the Company are compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals.

                    (o) The Company will maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Shares.

                    (p) The Company will pay all expenses, fees and taxes (other than any fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, except as set forth under Section 7 hereof or (iii) or (v) below) in connection with (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to

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the Underwriters and to dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (ii) the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares by the Company, (iii) the word processing and/or printing of this Agreement, any Agreement among the Underwriters, any dealer agreements, and the reproduction and/or printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Underwriters and to dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (iv) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Shares, including without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of aircraft and other transportation chartered in connection with the road show, except that the lodging, airfare (except if the Company charters a flight in which case employees of the Underwriters ride on such charter without charge), and incidental expenses of employees of the Underwriters shall be the responsibility of the Underwriters, (v) the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state laws and the determination of their eligibility for investment under state law as aforesaid (including the legal fees and filing fees and other disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters) and the preparation, printing and furnishing of copies of any blue sky surveys or legal investment surveys to the Underwriters and to dealers, (vi) any listing of the Shares on the NYSE and any registration thereof under the Exchange Act, (vii) the filing, if any, for review of the public offering of the Shares by the FINRA, (viii) the performance of the Company’s other obligations hereunder, and (ix) the costs and expenses (including without limitation any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with the reforming of any contracts for sale of the Shares made by the Underwriters caused by a breach of the representation contained in the first paragraph of Section 3(d) .

                    (q) The Company will not (i) take, directly or indirectly, prior to termination of the underwriting syndicate contemplated by this Agreement, any action designed to stabilize or manipulate the price of any security of the Company, or which may cause or result in, or which might in the future reasonably be expected to cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company, to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares, (ii) sell, bid for, purchase or pay any Person (other than as contemplated by the provisions hereof) any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Shares, or (iii) pay or agree to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting any order to purchase any other securities of the Company.

                    (r) The Company will not invest in futures contracts, options on futures contracts or options on commodities unless the Company is exempt from the registration requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, or otherwise complies with the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended. In addition, the Company will not engage in any activities which might be subject to the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, unless such activities are exempt from that Act or otherwise comply with that Act or with an applicable no-action letter to the Company from the Commodities Futures Trading Commission.

                    (s) The Company will comply with all of the provisions of any undertakings in the Registration Statement.

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                    (t) The Company has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation of the Company as a REIT under the Code, and the Company’s proposed methods of operation will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for subsequent taxable years.

                    (u) The Company will not be or become, at any time prior to the expiration of three years after the date of the Agreement, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.

                    (v) The Company has retained the Accountants as its qualified accountants and qualified tax experts (i) to test procedures and conduct annual compliance reviews designed to determine compliance with the REIT provisions of the Code and the Company’s exempt status under the Investment Company Act and (ii) to otherwise assist the Company in monitoring appropriate accounting systems and procedures designed to determine compliance with the REIT provisions of the Code and the Company’s exempt status under the Investment Company Act.

                    (w) The Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of, or dealings in, the Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the Prospectus.

                    (x) The Company will maintain such controls and other procedures, including, without limitation, those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the applicable regulations thereunder that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which such periodic reports are being prepared.

                    (y) The Company will comply with all effective applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

                    (z) The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of Merrill Lynch, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and Merrill Lynch, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission or, in the case of the Company, whether or not required to be filed with the Commission; provided, however, that prior to the preparation of the Prospectus in accordance with Section 5(b), the Underwriters are authorized to use the

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information with respect to the final terms of the Shares in communications conveying information relating to the offering to investors. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and Merrill Lynch is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping.

                    6. Certain Covenants of the Manager . The Manager covenants with each Underwriter and with the Company that, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, it shall notify you and the Company of the occurrence of any material events respecting its activities, affairs or condition, financial or otherwise, and the Manager will forthwith supply such information to the Company as shall be necessary in the opinion of counsel to the Company and the Underwriters for the Company to prepare any necessary amendment or supplement to the Prospectus so that, as so amended or supplemented, the Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading.

                    7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses . If the Shares are not delivered for any reason other than the termination of this Agreement pursuant to the default by one or more of the Underwriters in its or their respective obligations hereunder, the Company shall, in addition to paying the amounts described in Section 5(p) hereof, reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

                    8. Conditions Of Underwriters’ Obligations . The several obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Manager on the date hereof, at the Applicable Time and at the time of purchase (and the several obligations of the Underwriters at each additional time of purchase are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Manager on the date hereof, at the Applicable Time and at the time of purchase (unless previously waived) and at each additional time of purchase, as the case may be), the performance by the Company and the Manager of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

                    (a) The Company and the Manager shall furnish to Merrill Lynch, at the time of purchase and at each additional time of purchase, opinions of K&L Gates LLP, counsel for the Company and the Manager, addressed to the Underwriters, and dated the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, with reproduced copies for each of the other Underwriters and in form satisfactory to Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, substantially in the form of Exhibit A , attached hereto.

                    (b) Merrill Lynch shall have received from the Accountants, letters dated, respectively, the date of this Agreement and the time of purchase and each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters (with reproduced copies for

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each of the Underwriters) in the forms heretofore approved by Merrill Lynch relating to the financial statements, including any pro forma financial statements of the Company and such other matters customarily covered by comfort letters issued in connection with a registered public offering.

                    In the event that the letters referred to above set forth any such changes, decreases or increases, it shall be a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriters that (i) such letters shall be accompanied by a written explanation of the Company as to the significance thereof, unless Merrill Lynch deem such explanation unnecessary, and (ii) such changes, decreases or increases do not, in the sole judgment of Merrill Lynch, make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the purchase and delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

                    (c) Merrill Lynch shall have received at the time of purchase and at each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, the favorable opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be.

                    (d) No amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including the documents deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall be filed to which the Underwriters object in writing.

                    (e) Prior to the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, (i) no stop order with respect to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the Securities Act or proceedings initiated under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act; (ii) the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto, or modifications thereof, if any, shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and (iii) the Prospectus and all amendments or supplements thereto, or modifications thereof, if any, and the General Disclosure Package shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

                    (f) All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed by the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424 (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)). A prospectus containing the Rule 430B information shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) (or a post effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430B).

                    (g) Between the time of execution of this Agreement and the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, (i) no material and unfavorable change, financial or otherwise (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement, and the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package, in each case as of the Applicable Time), in the business, condition, net worth or prospects of the Company shall occur or become known and (ii) no

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transaction which is material and unfavorable to the Company shall have been entered into by the Company.

                    (h) The Company will, at the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, deliver to Merrill Lynch a certificate of two of its executive officers to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company as set forth in this Agreement are true and correct as of each such date, that the Company shall perform such of its obligations under this Agreement as are to be performed at or before the time of purchase and at or before each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, and that the conditions set forth in subsections (e) and (g) of this Section 8 have been met.

                    (i) The Manager will, at the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, deliver to Merrill Lynch a certificate of two of its executive officers to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Manager as set forth in this Agreement are true and correct as of each such date, that the Manager shall perform such of its obligations under this Agreement as are to be performed at or before the time of purchase and at or before each additional time of purchase, as the case may be.

                    (j) The Company shall have furnished to Merrill Lynch such other documents and certificates as to the accuracy and completeness of any statement in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as of the time of purchase and each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, as Merrill Lynch may reasonably request.

                    (k) The Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to notice of issuance at or prior to the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be.

                    (l) The FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

                    (m) Merrill Lynch shall have received lock-up agreements from the Company, Annaly, each of the Company’s officers and directors and certain members of the senior management of Annaly upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, and such letter agreements shall be in full force and effect.

                    (n) Between the time of execution of this Agreement and the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice or announcement have been given or made of (i) any intended or potential downgrading or (ii) any review or possible change that does not indicate an improvement, in the rating accorded any securities of or guaranteed by the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as that term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

                    9. Termination . The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of Merrill Lynch, at any time prior to the time of purchase or, if applicable, each additional time of purchase, (i) if any of the conditions specified in Section 8 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, (ii) if any material adverse and unfavorable change occurs (financial or otherwise), or

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any development involving a material adverse and unfavorable change occurs (financial or otherwise) (in each case, other than as disclosed in, or incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus as of the Applicable Time (exclusive of any supplement thereto)), in the operations, business, net worth, condition or prospects of the Company or the Manager, or a material change in management of the Company or the Manager occurs, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which would, in the sole judgment of Merrill Lynch, make it impracticable to market the Shares, (iii) if (a) the United States shall have declared war in accordance with its constitutional processes or there has occurred an outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity or crisis or change or development in economic, political or other conditions the effect of which on, or (b) any material adverse change in the financial markets of the United States or the international financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of Merrill Lynch, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares or enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares, (iv) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or by the NYSE, or if trading generally on the NYSE, American Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq National Market has been suspended, materially limited, (including an automatic halt in trading pursuant to market-decline triggers other than those in which solely program trading is temporarily halted), or limitations on or minimum prices for trading (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities have been required, by such exchange or the FINRA or Nasdaq or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority, (v) if a banking moratorium shall have been declared by New York or United States authorities or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, (vi) if there shall have occurred any downgrading, or any notice or announcement shall have been given or made of (a) any intended or potential downgrading or (b) any review or possible change that does not indicate an improvement, in the rating accorded any securities of or guaranteed by the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as that term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, (vii) if any federal or state statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or other governmental authority has been enacted, published, decreed or otherwise promulgated which, in the reasonable opinion of Merrill Lynch, materially adversely affects or will materially adversely affect the business or operations of the Company, or (viii) if any action has been taken by any federal, state or local government or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which, in the reasonable opinion of Merrill Lynch, has a material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States.

                    If Merrill Lynch elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 9 , the Company and each other Underwriter shall be notified promptly by telephone, which shall be promptly confirmed by facsimile.

                    If the sale to the Underwriters of the Shares, as contemplated by this Agreement, is not carried out by the Underwriters for any reason permitted under this Agreement or if such sale is not carried out because the Company shall be unable to comply with any of the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall not be under any obligation or liability under this Agreement (except to the extent provided in Sections 3 , 5(p) , 7 , 11 and 12 hereof), and the Underwriters shall be under no obligation or liability to the Company under this Agreement (except to the extent provided in Sections 11 and 12 hereof) or to one another hereunder.

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                    10. Increase in Underwriters’ Commitments . If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation under this Agreement to take up and pay for the Shares to be purchased by it under this Agreement (otherwise than for reasons sufficient to justify the termination of this Agreement under the provisions of Section 9 hereof), Merrill Lynch shall have the right, within 36 hours after such default, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Shares which such Underwriter shall have agreed but failed to take up and pay for (the “ Defaulted Shares ”). Absent the completion of such arrangements within such 36-hour period, (i) if the total number of Defaulted Shares does not exceed 10% of the total number of Shares to be purchased at the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, each non-defaulting Underwriter shall take up and pay for (in addition to the number of Shares which it is otherwise obligated to purchase on such date pursuant to this Agreement) the number of Shares agreed to be purchased by all such defaulting Underwriters in such amount or amounts as Merrill Lynch may designate with the consent of each Underwriter so designated or, in the event no such designation is made, such Shares shall be taken up and paid for by all non-defaulting Underwriters pro rata in proportion to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set opposite the names of such non-defaulting Underwriters in Schedule A ; and (ii) if the total number of Defaulted Shares exceeds 10% of such total number of Shares to be purchased at the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, and if neither the non-defaulting Underwriters nor the Company shall make arrangements within the five Business Day period from the date of default for the purchase of such Defaulted Shares, Merrill Lynch may terminate this Agreement by notice to the Company, without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 3 5(p) , 7 , 11 and 12 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. Nothing in this paragraph, and no action taken hereunder, shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

                    Without relieving any defaulting Underwriter from its obligations hereunder, the Company agrees with the non-defaulting Underwriters that they will not sell any Shares hereunder unless all of the Shares are purchased by the Underwriters (or by substituted Underwriters selected by Merrill Lynch with the approval of the Company or selected by the Company with the approval of Merrill Lynch).

                    If a new Underwriter or Underwriters are substituted for a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the Company or Merrill Lynch shall have the right to postpone the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven Business Days from the date of substitution in order that any necessary changes in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and other documents may be effected.

                    The term Underwriter as used in this Agreement shall refer to and include any Underwriter substituted under this Section 10 with like effect as if such substituted Underwriter had originally been named in Schedule A .

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                    11. Indemnification .

                    (a) Indemnification of Underwriters by the Company . The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, their affiliates, as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the Securities Act (each, an “ Affiliate ”) and the person, if any, who controls each Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:

                    (i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430B Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto or any documents deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

                    (ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 12 below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and

                    (iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Merrill Lynch), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided , however , that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430B Information or any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto or any documents deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (c) below.

                    (b) Indemnification of Underwriters by the Manager . The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, their Affiliates and the person, if any, who controls each Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20

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of the Exchange Act to the extent and in the manner set forth in clauses (a)(i), (ii) and (iii) above; provided , however , that in the case of the Manager this indemnity agreement shall only apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense if such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Manager Package.

                    (c) Indemnification of Company, Manager, Directors and Officers . Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Manager, and each of their directors and each of the Company’s officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls either the Company or the Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430B Information or any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession figure appearing in the fifth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting”.

                    (d) Actions against Parties; Notification . Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Sections 11(a) and 11(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by Merrill Lynch, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 11(c) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided , however , that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 11 or Section 12 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

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                    (e) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse . If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 11(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

                    12. Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in Section 11 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

          The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, relative to the total compensation received by the Underwriters from the sale of Shares on behalf of the Underwriters.

          The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Manager or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

          The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 12 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 12 . The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 12 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

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          Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 12 , the Underwriters shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

          No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

          For purposes of this Section 12 , the person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the Underwriters’ Affiliates shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, the Manager and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

                    13. Notices . Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements shall be in writing or by telegram and, if to the Underwriters, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to Merrill Lynch & Co., 4 World Financial Center, New York, New York 10080, Attention: Lee Shavel, with a copy for information purposes to Valerie Ford Jacob, Esq. at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004 and if to the Company or the Manager, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to them at 1211 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2902, New York, New York 10036, Attention: R. Nicholas Singh, Esq. with a copy for information purposes to Phillip Kardis, Esq. at K&L Gates LLP, 1601 K Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006.

                    14. Governing Law; Construction . This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement (a “ Claim ”), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. The Section headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement.

                    15. Submission to Jurisdiction . Except as set forth below, no Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and each of the Company and the Manager consents to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. Each of the Company and the Manager hereby consents to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which any Claim arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against Merrill Lynch or any indemnified party. Each of Merrill Lynch, the Manager and the Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. Each of the Company and the Manager agrees that a final judgment in any such action,

30


proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company or the Manager, as the case may be, and may be enforced in any other courts in the jurisdiction of which the Company or the Manager, as the case may be, is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

                    16. Parties At Interest . The Agreement herein set forth has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters, the Company, the Manager and to the extent provided in Section 11 and 12 hereof the controlling Persons, directors and officers referred to in such Section, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, pursuant representatives and executors and administrators. No other Person, partnership, association or corporation (including a purchaser, as such purchaser, from any of the Underwriters) shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.

                    17. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship . The Company and the Manager each acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Shares and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, or its respective stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of each of the Company, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

                    18. Tax Disclosure . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, immediately upon commencement of discussions with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company (and each employee, representative or other agent of the Company) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Company relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. For purposes of the foregoing, the term “tax treatment” is the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the term “tax structure” includes any fact that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                    19. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive . All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company, the Manager or any of their subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or

31


on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company or the Manager, and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Shares.

                    20. Integration . This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) among the Company, the Manager and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

                    21. Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed by the parties in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among the parties.

                    22. Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company and the Manager and their successors and assigns and any successor or assign of any substantial portion of the Company’s, the Manager’s and any of the Underwriters’ respective businesses and/or assets.

                    23. TIME . TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

32


                    If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among the Company, the Manager and the Underwriters, please so indicate in the space provided below for the purpose, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company and the Underwriters, severally.

 

 

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

By: 

/s/ A. Alexandra Denahan

 

 


 

 

 

Name: A. Alexandra Denahan

 

 

Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

FIXED INCOME DISCOUNT ADVISORY COMPANY

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kathryn Fagan

 

 


 

 

 

Name: Kathryn Fagan

 

 

Title:   Chief Financial Officer

33


 

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written, on behalf of itself and the other several Underwriters named in Schedule A

 

MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                    INCORPORATED
CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.


 

By: Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

Incorporated


 

 

 

By 

 

/s/ Richard Ginn

 



 

 

Authorized Signatory

For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

34


SCHEDULE A

 

 

 

 

 

Underwriter

 

Number of
Firm Shares

 


 


 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

 

 

57,120,000

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

 

24,360,000

 

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

 

 

24,360,000

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

 

18,480,000

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

 

 

18,480,000

 

UBS Securities LLC

 

 

18,480,000

 

JMP Securities LLC

 

 

3,360,000

 

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

 

 

3,360,000

 

 

 



 

Total

 

 

168,000,000

 

 

 



 

Sch-A


SCHEDULE B

Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus

None.

Sch-B


SCHEDULE C

Information

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Firm Shares:

 

168,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initial public offering price per Share:

 

$

3.22

 

Sch-C


EXHIBIT A

OPINION OF K&L GATES LLP

          1. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, with the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under or as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement. The Manager is a corporation duly incorporated and in good standing and has a legal corporate existence so far as the records of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware show under the laws of the State of Delaware, with the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under or as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement.

          2. The Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect (with your permission, we have relied in respect of matters of fact related to the opinion in this paragraph solely upon a certificate of an officer of the Company). The Manager is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect (with your permission, we have relied in respect of matters of fact related to the opinion in this paragraph solely upon a certificate of an officer of the Manager).

          3. The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by each of the Company and the Manager. The Management Agreement has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by each of the Company and the Manager.

          4. The Shares have been duly authorized by the Company for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth therein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and no holder of the Shares is or will be subject to personal liability, under the MGCL or the Company Charter or the Company By-laws, by reason of being a holder.

          5. The Company has an authorized capitalization as of March 31, 2009 as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization.” All issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable, and conform in all material respects with the description thereof contained in the Prospectus. The Shares when issued and outstanding will conform in all material respects with the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

          6. The issuance of the Shares is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights of any stockholder of the Company arising by operation of the MGCL or under the Company

Exh-A-1


Charter or Company By-laws, or, to our knowledge, any contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights. To our knowledge, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no outstanding option, warrant or other right calling for the issuance of, and no commitment, plan or arrangement to issue, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any security convertible into, exercisable for, or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company. To our knowledge, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no holder of any security of the Company has the right to have any security owned by such holder included for registration in the Registration Statement.

          7. The forms of certificate used by the Company to represent shares of Common Stock comply in all material respects with any applicable requirement of the MGCL, the Company Charter and Company By-laws, and the New York Stock Exchange.

          8. The information in the Prospectus, and incorporated by reference into the Prospectus from the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, under the captions “Description of Capital Stock,” “Certain Provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and Our Charter and Bylaws,” “Risk Factors – Loss of our 1940 Act exemption would adversely affect us and negatively affect the market price of shares of our common stock and our ability to distribute dividends and could result in the termination of the management agreement with our Manager,” “Risk Factors – Our charter and bylaws contain provisions that may inhibit potential acquisition bids that you and other stockholders may consider favorable, and the market price of our common stock may be lower as a result” and “Risk Factors – Our rights and the rights of our stockholders to take action against our directors and officers are limited, which could limit your recourse in the event of actions not in your best interests,” to the extent that such information constitutes a summary of legal matters under the MGCL or of provisions of the Company Charter or Company By-laws or the 1940 Act, has been reviewed by us and is correct in all material respects.

          9. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus (in each case other than (A) the financial statements and supporting schedules and other financial and accounting data included or incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom as to which we express no opinion and (B) except as expressed in our opinion in numbered paragraph 10 below, the documents incorporated therein), as of their respective effective dates, as the case may be, each complied, and as of the date hereof each comply, as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act.

          10. The annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2009, and the definitive proxy statement filed with the Commission on April 10, 2009, incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement (other than the financial statements and supporting schedules and other financial and accounting data included therein, as to which we express no opinion), when they were filed with the Commission (or, if later, upon filing of an amendment thereto) complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Exh-A-2


          11. The Registration Statement has been deemed effective under the 1933 Act; the Prospectus has been filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b)(without reference to Rule 424(b)(8)); and, to our knowledge, based solely on a telephone conversation with a member of the staff of the Commission, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been initiated or threatened by the Commission.

          12. To our knowledge, no consent, approval, authorization, or other order of any federal regulatory body, federal administrative agency or other federal governmental body of the United States of America or any state regulatory body, state administrative agency or other state governmental body of the State of Maryland is required under the Applicable Laws for the Company to issue and sell the Shares to the Underwriters as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby.

          13. The execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting Agreement by the Company and the Manager, the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Underwriters as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, constitute a default under, or, in the case of the Company, cause a Repayment Event (as defined below) under (A) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, repurchase agreement or other agreement, known to us, to which the Company or the Manager is a party or is bound, except for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, liens, charges, or encumbrances that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, (B) the Company Charter, Company By-laws, Manager Charter or Manager By-Laws, (C) Applicable Laws, (D) the 1940 Act, or (E) to our knowledge, based solely on the Fact Certificate, any judgment, decree, order, rule, or regulation, of any court, other governmental authority, or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Company or the Manager, except for such for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, liens, charges, or encumbrances that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, a “ Repayment Event ” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company, the Manager or any of their subsidiaries.

          14. The execution and delivery by the Company and the Manager of the Underwriting Agreement, and the performance by the Company and the Manager of their respective obligations under the Underwriting Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, do not and will not result in a violation of the Company Charter, Company By-Laws, Manager Charter or Manager By-laws, as the case may be, and, to our knowledge, no default by the Company or the Manager exists in the due performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant, or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease, repurchase agreement, other agreement, or instrument that is described or referred to in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, except, in each case above, for such for such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, liens, charges, or encumbrances that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

Exh-A-3


          15. To our knowledge, without independent inquiry, there are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or the Manager is or would be a party or to which any of their respective properties is subject which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus but are not so described.

          16. The Company is not, and the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement will not cause the Company to be required to register as an “investment company” under the 1940 Act.

          17. For all taxable years commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2007, the Company has been, and upon the sale of Shares will continue to be, organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a “real estate investment trust” (a “ REIT ”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code. The Company’s proposed method of operation, as described in the Company’s Registration Statement and Prospectus and as represented in the Fact Certificates, will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for subsequent taxable years, and no actions have been taken (or not taken which are required to be taken) which would cause such qualification to be lost.

          18. All disclosure in the Company’s Registration Statement and Prospectus regarding statutes, regulations, or legal or governmental proceedings pertaining to federal income tax matters is accurate in all material respects and presents in all material respects the information required to be shown. In particular, the disclosure contained in the Company’s Registration Statement under the captions “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Risk Factors—Tax Risks,” to the extent such information constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters, or legal conclusions is correct in all material respects and accurately describes the federal income tax considerations that are likely to be material to a holder of the Company’s capital stock.

Exh-A-4


EXHIBIT B

May 27, 2009

 

 

MERRILL LYNCH & CO.

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH

 

INCORPORATED

          As Representatives of the several Underwriters,

4 World Financial Center

New York, New York 10080

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                    In consideration of the agreement of Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“ Merrill Lynch ”) and certain other underwriters to underwrite a proposed public offering (the “ Offering ”) of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), of Chimera Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), as contemplated by an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-159468), as amended (the “ Registration Statement ”), the undersigned hereby agrees that the undersigned will not, for a period of 90 days after the commencement of the Offering, without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock, or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, exchangeable or redeemable for, shares of capital stock.

                    The foregoing sentence shall not apply to the payment by any grantee of any shares of restricted stock or other awards pursuant to the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan as exists on the date hereof of any withholding or other taxes relating to such shares through or by means of the cancellation of a portion of such shares.

                    Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the 90-day restricted period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results or becomes aware that material news or a material event will occur during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day restricted period, the restrictions imposed in this agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event.

                    The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that written notice of any extension of the lock-up period pursuant to the previous paragraph will be delivered by Merrill Lynch to the Company and that any such notice properly delivered will be deemed to have been given to, and received by, the undersigned. The undersigned further agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this lock-up agreement during the period from the date of this lock-up agreement to and including the 34th

Exh-B1


day following the expiration of the initial lock-up period, it will give notice thereof to the Company and will not consummate such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Company that the lock-up period (as may have been extended pursuant to the previous paragraph) has expired.

 

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

By: 

 

 

 


 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

Exh-B2


STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

          THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of May 27, 2009 is between Chimera Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), and Annaly Capital Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Purchaser ”).

RECITALS

          WHEREAS, the Purchaser owns 40,258,748 issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (as defined below) of the Company and has a substantive, pre-existing relationship with the Company;

          WHEREAS, the Company has registered shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“ Common Stock ”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the registration statement of the Company on Form S-3 (File No. 333-159468) (the “ Registration Statement ”) pursuant to which the Company intends to conduct a public offering of shares of the Company’s Common Stock (the “ Public Offering ”); and

          WHEREAS, the Company desires to issue and sell shares of its Common Stock to the Purchaser on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

AGREEMENT

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, and, other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

AUTHORIZATION, SALE AND ISSUANCE OF SHARES AND OPTIONS

                    Section 1.1 Authorization . The Company shall issue 4,724,017 shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “ Shares ”) at a purchase price per share equal to the Public Offering price per share (the “ Share Price ”).

                    Section 1.2 Sale and Issuance of the Shares . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company shall sell and Purchaser shall purchase the Shares at the Closing (as defined below).


ARTICLE 2

CLOSING

                    Section 2.1 Closing . The closing (“ Closing ”) shall only occur immediately after the closing of the Public Offering. Upon the Closing of this transaction, the Purchaser will deliver to the Company a wire transfer of immediately available funds to accounts specified by the Company or certified check in the amount equal to the Share Price multiplied by the number of Shares.

                    Section 2.2 Delivery . Subject to the terms of this Agreement, within five (5) days of the Closing, the Company will deliver to the Purchaser the certificates representing the Shares to be purchased by the Purchaser from the Company.

ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

                    Section 3.1 Representations and Warranties by the Company . The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser as of the Closing date as follows:

 

 

 

          (a) The Company has been duly formed and incorporated and is existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or assets or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, prospects, financial condition or results of operation of the Company taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”), and has full corporate power and authority necessary to own, hold, lease and/or operate its assets and properties, to conduct the business in which it is engaged and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company is in compliance in all material respects with the laws, orders, rules, regulations and directives issued or administered by such jurisdictions.

 

 

 

          (b) The authorized capital stock of the Company is 1,100,000,000 shares of stock, consisting of 1,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 472,401,769 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which none are issued and outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right.

 

 

 

          (c) The Shares have been duly and validly authorized by the Company for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and

2


 

 

 

non-assessable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim.

 

 

 

          (d) The certificates for the Shares are in due and proper form and the holders of the Shares will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.

 

 

 

          (e) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights or by general equitable principles.

 

 

 

          (f) The management agreement (the “ Management Agreement ”), dated as of November 21, 2007, between the Company and Fixed Income Discount Advisory Company (the “ Manager ”), as amended on October 13, 2008, and October 19, 2008, has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights or by general equitable principles.

 

 

 

          (g) The Company has no “significant subsidiaries” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”)) and, except for the equity of Chimera Securities Holdings, LLC, does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation or have any equity interest in any firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity. Complete and correct copies of the articles of incorporation and of the bylaws of the Company and all amendments thereto have been delivered to the Purchaser and, except as set forth in the forms of documents delivered to the Purchaser, no changes therein will be made subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the time of purchase.

 

 

 

          (h) The financial statements of the Company, together with the related schedules and notes thereto, delivered to the Purchaser are accurate in all material respects and fairly present the financial condition of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of operations, changes in financial position, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods therein specified are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise stated therein). The selected financial and statistical data delivered to the Purchaser present fairly the information shown therein and, to the extent based upon or derived from the financial statements, have been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein.

 

 

 

          (i) The Company is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the business in which it is engaged. The Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to

3


 

 

 

obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

 

          (j) The Company is not in breach of, or in default under (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time, or both would result in any breach of, or constitute a default under), (i) its articles of incorporation or bylaws or (ii) any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, license, repurchase agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it or any of its assets or properties may be bound or affected, the effect of which breach or default under clause (ii) above could have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not conflict with, or result in any breach of, constitute a default under or a Repayment Event (as defined below) under (nor constitute any event which with notice, lapse of time, or both would result in any breach of, constitute a default under or a Repayment Event under), (i) any provision of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, (ii) any provision of any contract, license, repurchase agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its assets or properties may be bound or affected, the effect of which could have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment or order applicable to the Company. As used herein, a “ Repayment Event ” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

 

 

          (k) There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations, inquiries or proceedings pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened to which the Company or any of its officers or directors is a party or of which any of its properties or other assets is subject at law or in equity, or before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency which could result in a judgment, decree or order having a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

 

          (l) No approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any national, state or local governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency is required in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Company of the transaction contemplated hereby other than any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Shares are being offered by the Company.

 

 

 

          (m) The Company has all necessary licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals and has made all necessary filings required under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule, and has obtained all necessary permits, authorizations, consents and approvals from other Persons (as defined below), in order to conduct its

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business, except as such as could not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not required by any applicable law to obtain accreditation or certification from any governmental agency or authority in order to provide the products and services which it currently provides or which it proposes to provide except as such as could not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not in violation of, or in default under, any such license, permit, authorization, consent or approval or any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, order or judgment applicable to the Company, the effect of which could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

 

          (n) The Company has not incurred any liability for any finder’s fees or similar payments in connection with the transactions herein contemplated.

 

 

 

          (o) The Company owns or possesses adequate license or other rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, software and design licenses, trade secrets, manufacturing processes, other intangible property rights and know-how (collectively, “ Intangibles ”) necessary to entitle the Company to conduct its business, and the Company has not received notice of infringement of or conflict with (and the Company knows of no such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any Intangibles which could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

 

          (p) The Company has filed all federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed on or prior to the date hereof and has paid taxes shown as due thereon (or that are otherwise due and payable), other than taxes which are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company has no knowledge, after due inquiry, of any tax deficiency which has been asserted or threatened against the Company. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no tax returns of the Company that are currently being audited by federal, state or local taxing authorities or agencies which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

 

          (q) The Company is not in violation, and has not received notice of any violation with respect to, any applicable environmental, safety or similar law applicable to the business of the Company. The Company has received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable federal and state occupational safety and health and environmental laws and regulations to conduct its business, and the Company is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except any such violation of law or regulation, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals which could not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

 

          (r) There are no existing or threatened labor disputes with the employees of the Company which are likely to have individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

 

          (s) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or its subsidiaries has made any

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payment of funds of the Company or its subsidiaries or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation, except as disclosed to the Purchaser.

 

 

 

          (t) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is delivered to the Purchaser, there has not been (i) any material adverse change, or any development which would reasonably be expected to cause a material adverse change, in the business, properties or assets, or the results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), net worth, business, prospects or operations of the Company taken as a whole, (ii) any transaction which is material to the Company, except transactions in the ordinary course of business, (iii) any obligation, direct or contingent, which is material to the Company taken as a whole, incurred by the Company, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) other than the Public Offering, any change in the capital stock or, except in the ordinary course of business, outstanding indebtedness of the Company, or (v) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock. The Company has no material contingent obligation which has not been disclosed to the Purchaser.

 

 

 

          (u) The descriptions provided to the Purchaser of the legal or governmental proceedings, contracts, leases and other legal documents therein described present fairly the information shown, and there are no other legal or governmental proceedings, contracts, leases, or other documents. All agreements between the Company and third parties delivered to the Purchaser are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.

 

 

 

          (v) There are no Persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities, including securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities, of the Company registered by the Company under the Securities Act.

 

 

 

          (w) No person, as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act (each, a “ Person ”), has the right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the Company to issue to it any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company upon the issue and sale of the Shares hereunder, nor does any Person have preemptive rights, co-sale rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase or subscribe for any of the Shares or any securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell any of, the Shares or any options, rights or convertible securities or obligations, other than those that have been expressly waived prior to the date hereof.

 

 

 

          (x) The Company (i) does not have any issued or outstanding preferred stock or (ii) has not defaulted on any installment on indebtedness for borrowed money or on any rental on one or more long term leases, which defaults would have a Material Adverse Effect on the financial position of the Company.

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          (y) Each of the Company and its officers, directors and controlling Persons has not, directly or indirectly, (i) taken any action designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale of the Shares, or (ii) except with respect to the Public Offering (A) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of, the Shares or (B) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company.

 

 

 

          (z) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (i) is required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) or (ii) directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or has any other association with (within the meaning of Article I of the Bylaws of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”)) any member firm of the FINRA.

 

 

 

          (aa) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company delivered to the Purchaser pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Purchaser as to the matters covered thereby.

 

 

 

          (bb) As of the date of this Agreement, the Company has no plan or intention to materially alter its capital investment policy or investment allocation strategy, both as described to the Purchaser. The Company has good and marketable title to all of the properties and assets owned by it, in each case free and clear of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects (except for any security interest, lien, encumbrance or claim that may otherwise exist under any applicable repurchase agreement), except such as do not have a Material Adverse Effect and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property or asset by the Company, and except as described to the Purchaser. The Company owns no real property. Any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company are held under valid, existing and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are disclosed to the Purchaser or are not material and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company.

 

 

 

          (cc) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

 

 

          (dd) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Exchange Act);

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such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to perform the functions for which they were established; any significant material weaknesses in internal controls have been identified for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer; and since the date of the most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls.

 

 

 

          (ee) The Company has not, directly or indirectly, including through any of its subsidiaries, extended credit, arranged to extend credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the Company, or to or for any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the Company.

 

 

 

          (ff) The Company is in compliance with all presently applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”) and is actively taking steps to ensure that it will be in compliance with other applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act upon the effectiveness of such provisions.

 

 

 

          (gg) Deloitte & Touche LLP, are and, during the periods covered by their reports, were our independent public accountants.

 

 

 

          (hh) The Company, since its date of inception, has been, and upon the sale of the Shares will continue to be, organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a “real estate investment trust” (a “ REIT ”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, the “ Code ”), for all taxable years commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2007. The proposed method of operation of the Company as described to the Purchaser will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and no actions have been taken (or not taken which are required to be taken) which would cause such qualification to be lost. The Company intends to continue to operate in a manner which would permit it to qualify as a REIT under the Code. The Company has no intention of changing its operations or engaging in activities which would cause it to fail to qualify, or make economically undesirable its continued qualification, as a REIT.

 

 

 

          (ii) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares, will not be an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

 

 

          (jj) The Company has a substantive, pre-existing relationship with the Purchaser and was directly contacted by the Purchaser or its agents outside of the Public Offering effort. The Company (i) did not identify or contact the Purchaser through the

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marketing of the Public Offering and (ii) was not independently contacted by the Purchaser as a result of the general solicitation by means of the Registration Statement.

 

 

 

          (kk) No representation or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make any such representation or warranty, in light of the circumstances in which it was made, not misleading.

ARTICLE 4

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER AND
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER IMPOSED BY THE SECURITIES ACT

                    Section 4.1 Representations and Warranties by the Purchaser . The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company as of the day of Closing as follows:

 

 

 

          (a) Investment Intent . The Purchaser is acquiring the Shares for investment for the Purchaser’s own account, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view to or for resale in connection with, any distribution or public offering thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act and applicable law. The Purchaser has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement.

 

 

 

          (b) Shares Not Registered . The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement will not be registered under the Securities Act on the grounds that the offering and sale of securities contemplated by this Agreement are exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2) thereof and exempt from registration pursuant to applicable state securities or blue sky laws, and that the Company’s reliance upon such exemptions is predicated upon such Purchaser’s representations set forth in this Agreement. The Purchaser acknowledges and understands that the Shares must be held indefinitely unless the Shares are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and qualified under state law or unless an exemption from such registration and such qualification is available.

 

 

 

          (c) No Transfer . Subject to the provisions of Section 5.2, the Purchaser covenants that in no event will the Purchaser dispose of any of the Shares (other than in conjunction with an effective registration statement for the Shares under the Securities Act) unless and until (i) the Purchaser shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and (ii) if reasonably requested by the Company, the Purchaser shall have furnished the Company with an opinion of counsel satisfactory in form and substance to the Company to the effect that (x) such disposition will not require registration under the Securities Act, and (y) appropriate action necessary for compliance with the Securities Act and any other applicable state, local, or foreign law has been taken, and (iii) the Company has consented, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld.

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          (d) Authority . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Purchaser enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights or by general equitable principles.

 

 

 

          (e) No Breach . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Purchaser and the consummation of the transactions by the Purchaser contemplated hereby will not conflict with, or result in any breach of, constitute a default under (nor constitute any event which with notice, lapse of time, or both would result in any breach of, or constitute a default under), (i) any provision of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Purchaser, (ii) any provision of any contract, license, repurchase agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Purchaser is a party or by which the Purchaser or any of its assets or properties may be bound or affected, the effect of which could have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment or order applicable to the Purchaser.

 

 

 

          (f) Knowledge and Experience . The Purchaser (i) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the Purchaser’s prospective investment in the Shares; (ii) has the ability to bear the economic risks of the Purchaser’s prospective investment; and (iii) has not been offered the Shares by any form of advertisement, article, notice, or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine, or similar medium; or broadcast over television or radio; or any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any such medium.

 

 

 

          (g) Investigation . The Purchaser has carefully reviewed the representations concerning the Company contained in this Agreement, and has made detailed inquiry concerning the Company, its business and its personnel; the officers of the Company have made available to the Purchaser any and all written information which it has requested and have answered to the Purchaser’s satisfaction all inquiries made by the Purchaser; and the Purchaser has sufficient business and financial knowledge and experience so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Company. The Purchaser has received a copy of the Company’s articles of incorporation, as amended, the Company’s bylaws, as amended, and this Agreement and has read and understands the respective contents thereof. The Purchaser has had the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and has received answers to such questions from the Company. The Purchaser has carefully reviewed and evaluated these documents and understands the risks and other considerations relating to the investment.

 

 

 

          (h) Qualified Institutional Buyer . The Purchaser is a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A, promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

 

 

          (i) Accredited Investor . The Purchaser is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(8) of Regulation D, promulgated under the Securities Act.

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          (j) Pre-existing Relationship . The Purchaser has a substantive, pre-existing relationship with the Company and was directly contacted by the Company or its agents outside of the Public Offering effort. The Purchaser (i) was not identified or contacted through the marketing of the Public Offering and (ii) did not independently contact the Company as a result of the general solicitation by means of the Registration Statement.

 

 

 

          (k) Finder’s Fees . The Purchaser has not incurred any liability for any finder’s fees or similar payments in connection with the transactions herein contemplated.

                    Section 4.2 Legends . Each certificate representing the Shares shall be endorsed with the following legends:

 

 

 

          (a) Federal Legend . The securities represented by this certificate have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and are “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act. The securities may not be sold or offered for sale or otherwise distributed except (i) in conjunction with an effective registration statement for the shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (ii) pursuant to an opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the company, that such registration or compliance is not required as to said sale, offer, or distribution.

 

 

 

          (b) REIT Legend . THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON BENEFICIAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER. SUBJECT TO CERTAIN FURTHER RESTRICTIONS AND EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THE CORPORATION’S CHARTER, DURING THE PERIOD COMMENCING ON THE INITIAL DATE AND PRIOR TO THE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE (I) NO PERSON MAY BENEFICIALLY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES OF ANY CLASS OR SERIES OF THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CORPORATION IN EXCESS OF NINE AND EIGHT-TENTHS PERCENT (9.8%) IN VALUE OR IN NUMBER OF SHARES, WHICHEVER IS MORE RESTRICTIVE, OF ANY CLASS OR SERIES OF CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CORPORATION UNLESS SUCH PERSON IS AN EXCEPTED HOLDER (IN WHICH CASE THE EXCEPTED HOLDER LIMIT SHALL BE APPLICABLE); (II) NO PERSON MAY BENEFICIALLY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE CORPORATION BEING “CLOSELY HELD” UNDER SECTION 856(H) OF THE CODE; (III) NO PERSON MAY TRANSFER SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CORPORATION BEING BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED (100) PERSONS (DETERMINED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY RULES OF ATTRIBUTION); (IV) NO PERSON MAY BENEFICIALLY OWN SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK THAT WOULD RESULT IN 25% OR MORE OF ANY CLASS OF CAPITAL STOCK BEING BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY ONE OR MORE BENEFIT PLAN INVESTORS, DISREGARDING CAPITAL STOCK OWNED BY CONTROLLING PERSONS (OTHER THAN CONTROLLING PERSONS WHICH ARE BENEFIT PLAN INVESTORS); AND (V) DURING THE PERIOD COMMENCING ON THE INITIAL DATE AND PRIOR TO THE DATE THE COMMON STOCK QUALIFIES AS A CLASS OF PUBLICLY-OFFERED

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SECURITIES, NO PERSON MAY TRANSFER SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK WITHOUT OBTAINING FROM ITS TRANSFEREE A REPRESENTATION AND AGREEMENT THAT (A) ITS TRANSFEREE IS NOT (AND WILL NOT BE), AND IS NOT ACTING ON BEHALF OF, A BENEFIT PLAN INVESTOR OR A CONTROLLING PERSON AND (B) SUCH TRANSFEREE WILL OBTAIN FROM ITS TRANSFEREE THE REPRESENTATION AND AGREEMENT SET FORTH IN THIS CLAUSE (V) (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION CLAUSES (A) AND (B)). ANY PERSON WHO BENEFICIALLY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWNS OR ATTEMPTS TO BENEFICIALLY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK WHICH CAUSES OR WILL CAUSE A PERSON TO BENEFICIALLY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK IN EXCESS OR IN VIOLATION OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MUST IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE CORPORATION. IF ANY OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OR OWNERSHIP IN (I), (II) AND (III) ABOVE ARE VIOLATED, THE SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED TO A TRUSTEE OF A CHARITABLE TRUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF ONE OR MORE CHARITABLE BENEFICIARIES. IF, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING SENTENCE, A TRANSFER TO THE CHARITABLE TRUST IS NOT EFFECTIVE FOR ANY REASON TO PREVENT A VIOLATION OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP IN (I), (II) AND (III) ABOVE, THEN THE ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THAT NUMBER OF SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK THAT OTHERWISE WOULD CAUSE ANY PERSON TO VIOLATE SUCH RESTRICTIONS SHALL BE VOID AB INITIO. IF ANY OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP IN (IV) AND (V) ABOVE ARE VIOLATED, THEN THE ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THAT NUMBER OF SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK THAT OTHERWISE WOULD CAUSE ANY PERSON TO VIOLATE SUCH RESTRICTIONS SHALL BE VOID AB INITIO. IF, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING SENTENCE, A PURPORTED TRANSFER IS NOT TREATED AS BEING VOID AB INITIO FOR ANY REASON, THEN THE SHARES TRANSFERRED IN SUCH VIOLATION SHALL AUTOMATICALLY BE TRANSFERRED TO A CHARITABLE TRUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF A CHARITABLE BENEFICIARY, AND THE PURPORTED OWNER OR TRANSFEREE WILL ACQUIRE NO RIGHTS IN SUCH SHARES. IN ADDITION, THE CORPORATION MAY REDEEM SHARES UPON THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION IF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DETERMINES THAT OWNERSHIP OR A TRANSFER OR OTHER EVENT MAY VIOLATE THE RESTRICTIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE. ALL CAPITALIZED TERMS IN THIS LEGEND HAVE THE MEANINGS DEFINED IN THE CHARTER OF THE CORPORATION, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, A COPY OF WHICH, INCLUDING THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP, WILL BE FURNISHED TO EACH HOLDER OF CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CORPORATION ON REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE. REQUESTS FOR SUCH A COPY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICE.

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          (c) Other Legends . With respect to any other legends required by applicable law, the Company need not register a transfer of legended Shares, and may also instruct its transfer agent not to register the transfer of the Shares, unless the conditions specified in such legend is satisfied.

                    Section 4.3 Rule 144 . The Purchaser is aware of the adoption of Rule 144 by the SEC promulgated under the Securities Act, which permits limited public resale of securities acquired in a nonpublic offering, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. The Purchaser understands that under Rule 144, the conditions include, among other things: the availability of certain, current public information about the issuer and the resale occurring not less than one year after the party has purchased and paid for the securities to be sold.

ARTICLE 5

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

                    Section 5.1 Reports . The Company hereby covenants and agrees as follows: The Company will furnish to the holders of the Shares copies of all annual or quarterly financial statements the Company regularly provides to the banks or other lenders extending credit to the Company as requested by the holders of the Shares as would be required for a the holder of the Shares to make any resales of Shares under Rule 144(b) of the Securities Act. In addition, the Company will furnish to the holders of the Shares such other information as may reasonably be required by any holder of the Shares to furnish information required by any governmental authority.

                    Section 5.2 Lock-up . The Purchaser hereby covenants and agrees as follows: The Purchaser will not until the earlier of (i) the date which is three (3) years after the date of this Agreement or (ii) the termination of the Management Agreement, without the prior written consent of the Company, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock, or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, exchangeable or redeemable for, shares of capital stock of the Company.

ARTICLE 6

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

                    Section 6.1 Conditions to the Purchaser’s Obligations . The obligations of the Purchaser to purchase the Shares at the Closing are subject to the fulfillment to its satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing, of the following conditions, any of which may be waived:

 

 

 

          (a) Representations and Warranties Correct . The representations and warranties made by the Company in Article 3 hereof shall be true and correct when made and at the Closing. The Company’s business and assets shall not have been adversely affected in any material way prior to the Closing. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and conditions herein required to be performed or observed by it on or prior to the Closing.

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          (b) Public Offering . The Company shall have completed the Public Offering (it being agreed that this condition must be met and cannot be waived by either party hereto).

                    Section 6.2 Conditions to Obligations of the Company . The Company’s obligation to sell the Shares at the Closing is subject to the condition that the representations and warranties made by the Purchaser in Article 4 hereof shall be true and correct when made, and on the Closing.

ARTICLE 7

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

The Purchaser is not entitled to any registration rights under this Agreement or associated with the purchase of the Shares. The purchase shall be subject to such private restrictions on the transfer of the Shares as are designated from time to time by the Company or its investment bankers or underwriters.

ARTICLE 8

MISCELLANEOUS

                    Section 8.1 Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law principles contrary (with references to Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligation Law which by its terms applies to the this Agreement).

                    Section 8.2 Survival . The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made herein shall survive the Closing of the transactions contemplated hereby, notwithstanding any investigation made by the Purchaser. All statements as to factual matters contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to be representations and warranties by the Company hereunder as of the date of such certificate or instrument.

                    Section 8.3 Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, and administrators of the parties hereto.

                    Section 8.4 Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the other documents delivered pursuant hereto constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof and they supersede, merge, and render void every other prior written and/or oral understanding or agreement among or between the parties hereto.

                    Section 8.5 Notices, etc . All notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, or delivered by courier or overnight delivery, addressed (a) if to the

14


Purchaser, at such Purchaser’s address as Purchaser shall have furnished to the Company in writing, or (b) if to the Company, at such other address as the Company shall have furnished to the Purchaser in writing. Notices that are mailed shall be deemed received five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail. Notices sent by courier or overnight delivery shall be deemed received two (2) days after they have been so sent.

                    Section 8.6 Severability . In case any provision of this Agreement shall be found by a court of law to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

                    Section 8.7 Expenses . The Company and the Purchaser shall each bear their own expenses and legal fees in connection with the consummation of this transaction.

                    Section 8.8 Titles and Subtitles . The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

                    Section 8.9 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

                    Section 8.10 Delays or Omissions . No delay or omission to exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to the Company or to any holder of any securities issued or to be issued hereunder shall impair any such right, power, or remedy of the Company or such holder, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any breach or default under this Agreement, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any failure to exercise any right, power, or remedy or any waiver of any single breach or a waiver of any other right, power, or remedy or breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. All remedies, either under this Agreement, or by law or otherwise afforded to the Company or any holder, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

[Signature Page Follows]

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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION

 

ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ A. Alexandra Denahan

 

By:

/s/ Kathryn Fagan

 

 


 

 


 

Name: A. Alexandra Denahan

 

Name: Kathryn Fagan

 

Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 



CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

Chimera Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:

          FIRST: The charter of the Corporation is hereby amended by deleting the existing Section 6.1 in its entirety and adding a new Section 6.1 to read as follows:

 

 

 

“6.1 Authorized Shares . The Corporation has authority to issue 1,100,000,000 shares of stock, consisting of 1,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), and 100,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”). The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is $11,000,000. If shares of one class of stock are classified or reclassified into shares of another class of stock pursuant to this Article VI, the number of authorized shares of the former class shall be automatically decreased and the number of shares of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of shares so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of shares of stock of all classes that the Corporation has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of shares of stock set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph. The Board of Directors, without any action by the stockholders of the Corporation, may amend the Charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that the Corporation has authority to issue.”

          SECOND: The board of directors of the Corporation, with the approval of a majority of the directors and without any action by the stockholders of the Corporation, may amend the charter of the Corporation from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that the Corporation has authority to issue. The amendment of the charter of the Corporation as set forth above has been duly advised and approved by the board of directors of the Corporation as required by law.

          THIRD: The amendment is limited to a change expressly authorized by § 2-105(a)(12) of the Maryland General Corporation Law to be made without action by the stockholders.

          FOURTH: Immediately prior to the amendment to the charter, the Corporation had the authority to issue 550,000,000 shares of capital stock, par value $0.01 per share, amounting to aggregate par value of $5,500,000, of which 500,000,000 shares were classified as “Common Stock,” par value $0.01 per share, and 50,000,000 shares were classified as “Preferred Stock,” par value $0.01 per share. Following the amendment to the charter, the Corporation will have the authority to issue 1,100,000,000 shares of capital stock, par value $0.01 per share, amounting to aggregate par value of $11,000,000, of which 1,000,000,000 shares are classified as “Common Stock,” par value $0.01 per share, and 100,000,000 shares are classified as “Preferred Stock,” par value $0.01 per share.

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          FIFTH: The preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption of the Corporation’s shares of capital stock were not changed by the amendment to the charter.

          SIXTH: The undersigned Chief Executive Officer and President of the Corporation acknowledges these Articles of Amendment to be the corporate act of the Corporation and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Chief Executive Officer and President acknowledges that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties of perjury.

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          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Amendment to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and President and attested to by its Secretary on this 22 nd day of May, 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

ATTEST :

 

CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By: 

/s/ A. Alexandra Denahan (SEAL)

 

By: 

   /s/ Matthew Lambiase

 


 

 


Name: A. Alexandra Denahan

 

Name: Matthew Lambiase

Title: Secretary

 

Title: Chief Executive Officer and President