MFA Mortgage Investments, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter 2007 Financial Results

NEW YORK, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MFA Mortgage Investments, Inc. today reported earnings available to common stockholders of $18.6 million, or $0.16 per share of common stock, for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2007. On December 13, 2007, MFA announced its fourth quarter dividend of $0.145 per share of common stock. The dividend was paid on January 31, 2008 to stockholders of record as of December 31, 2007.

Stewart Zimmerman, MFA's Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President, said, "In light of continuing concerns regarding the residential mortgage and housing market, we are pleased with both our strategy of investing in high-quality assets and our fourth quarter 2007 financial results. Our portfolio spread and dividend have trended up in each of the last four quarters. At December 31, 2007, approximately 99% of our assets consisted of MBS issued or guaranteed by an agency of the U.S. government or a federally chartered corporation, other MBS rated "AAA" by Standard & Poor's Corporation, MBS-related receivables and cash."

Mr. Zimmerman added, "Concerns about increased mortgage delinquencies have led investors to question the underlying risk and value of MBS across the ratings spectrum. Banks, brokers and insurers have announced billions in losses from exposure to the U.S. mortgage credit market. These losses have reduced financial industry capital and have led to reduced liquidity. This reduced liquidity has led to forced asset sales creating attractive investment opportunities for MFA."

Mr. Zimmerman continued, "In the fourth quarter, we completed two public offerings of our common stock. On October 5, 2007, we completed a public offering of 8,050,000 shares priced at $7.90 and received net proceeds of approximately $60.2 million, and on November 14, 2007 we completed a public offering of 17,250,000 shares priced at $7.95 and received net proceeds of approximately $130.0 million. Subsequent to yearend, on January 23, 2008, we completed an additional public offering of 28,750,000 shares priced at $9.25 and received net proceeds of approximately $253.0 million. We have invested these equity proceeds on a leveraged basis in additional Agency MBS. The investment of this equity along with our reduced funding costs due to declines in interest rates should lead to increased earnings and portfolio spreads in the first quarter of 2008."

During the fourth quarter of 2007, MFA acquired or committed to purchase approximately $1.837 billion of Agency MBS. These transactions increased MFA's concentration in Agency MBS and positively impacted our portfolio spread. At December 31, 2007, Agency MBS and related receivables constituted approximately 92% of MFA's assets (or approximately $7.911 billion), "AAA" MBS and related receivables were approximately 5% (or approximately $427 million), and total cash was approximately 3% (or approximately $234 million). The weighted average cost basis of our MBS portfolio was 101.25% of par at December 31, 2007. MFA's MBS assets are relatively liquid and continue to be financed with multiple funding providers through repurchase agreements. MFA's leverage as measured by assets-to-equity was 9.3x on December 31, 2007.

MFA's primary focus is Agency, higher coupon hybrid and adjustable-rate MBS assets. The MBS in MFA's portfolio are primarily adjustable-rate or hybrids, which have an initial fixed interest rate for a specified period of time and, thereafter, generally reset annually. Assuming a 20% Constant Prepayment Rate (or CPR), approximately 31% of the MBS in MFA's portfolio are expected to prepay or have their interest rates reset within the next 12 months, with a total of 85% expected to reset or prepay during the next 60 months.

MFA takes into account both coupon resets and expected prepayments when measuring the sensitivity of its MBS portfolio to changing interest rates. In measuring its assets-to-borrowing repricing gap, MFA measures the difference between: (a) the weighted average months until coupon adjustment or projected prepayment on its MBS portfolio; and (b) the months remaining on its repurchase agreements including the impact of interest rate swap agreements. Assuming a 20% CPR, the weighted average time to repricing or assumed prepayment for MFA's MBS portfolio, as of December 31, 2007, was approximately 33 months and the average term remaining on its repurchase agreements, including the impact of interest rate swaps, was approximately 23 months, resulting in a repricing gap of approximately ten months. The prepayment speed on MFA's MBS portfolio averaged 13.4% CPR during the fourth quarter of 2007.

During the fourth quarter of 2007, the gross yield on MFA's interest- earning assets was approximately 6.08%, while the net yield on interest- earning assets was 5.70%, primarily reflecting the cost of premium amortization on MFA's MBS portfolio. The portfolio spread, which is the difference between MFA's interest-earning asset portfolio net yield of 5.70% and its 5.05% cost of funds, was 0.65% for the fourth quarter of 2007. By comparison, the portfolio spread in the third quarter of 2007 was 0.36%. MFA's costs for compensation and benefits and other general and administrative expense were $3.2 million or 0.16% of average assets for the quarter ended December 31, 2007. As of December 31, 2007, MFA's book value per share of common stock was $6.76.

Stockholders interested in participating in MFA's Discount Waiver, Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan (or the Plan) or receiving a Plan prospectus may do so by contacting BNY Mellon Shareowner Services, the Plan administrator, at 1-866-249-2610 (toll free). For more information about the Plan, interested stockholders may also go to the website established for the Plan at http://www.melloninvestor.com/ or visit MFA's website at http://www.mfa-reit.com/.

MFA will hold a conference call on Thursday, February 14, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) to discuss its fourth quarter 2007 financial results. The number to dial in order to listen to the conference call is (800) 762-7308 in the U.S. and Canada. International callers must dial (480) 629-9025. The replay will be available through Thursday, February 21, 2008, at 11:59 p.m., and can be accessed by dialing (800) 475-6701 in the U.S. and Canada or (320) 365-3844 internationally and entering access code: 911216. The conference call will also be webcast over the internet and can be accessed at http://www.mfa-reit.com/ through the appropriate link on MFA's Investor Relations page or, alternatively, at http://www.ccbn.com/. To listen to the call over the internet, go to the applicable website at least 15 minutes before the call to register and to download and install any needed audio software.

When used in this press release or other written or oral communications, statements which are not historical in nature, including those containing words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "should," "expect," "believe," "intend" and similar expressions, are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those relating to: changes in interest rates and the market value of MFA's MBS; changes in the prepayment rates on the mortgage loans securing MFA's MBS; MFA's ability to use borrowings to finance its assets; changes in government regulations affecting MFA's business; MFA's ability to maintain its qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes; and risks associated with investing in real estate assets, including changes in business conditions and the general economy. These and other risks, uncertainties and factors, including those described in the annual, quarterly and current reports that MFA files with the SEC, could cause MFA's actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements it makes. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and MFA does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update or revise any forward- looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of such statements.

CONTACT: MFA Investor Relations 800-892-7547 http://www.mfa-reit.com/ MFA MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS At December 31, 2007 2006 (In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts) Assets: MBS, at fair value (including pledged MBS of $8,046,947 and $6,065,021 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively) $8,301,183 $6,340,668 Income notes 1,614 - Cash and cash equivalents 234,410 47,200 Restricted cash 4,517 - Interest receivable 43,610 33,182 Interest rate cap agreements, at fair value - 361 Swap agreements, at fair value 103 2,412 Real estate, net 11,611 11,789 Goodwill 7,189 7,189 Prepaid and other assets 1,622 1,166 Total Assets $8,605,859 $6,443,967 Liabilities: Repurchase agreements $7,526,014 $5,722,711 Accrued interest payable 20,212 23,164 Mortgage payable on real estate 9,462 9,606 Swaps, at fair value 99,836 1,893 Dividends and dividend equivalents payable 18,005 4,899 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 5,067 3,136 Total Liabilities 7,678,596 5,765,409 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' Equity: Preferred stock, $.01 par value; series A 8.50% cumulative redeemable; 5,000 shares authorized; 3,840 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2007 and 2006 ($96,000 aggregate liquidation preference) 38 38 Common stock, $.01 par value; 370,000 shares authorized; 122,887 and 80,695 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively 1,229 807 Additional paid-in capital, in excess of par 1,085,760 776,743 Accumulated deficit (89,263) (68,637) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (70,501) (30,393) Total Stockholders' Equity 927,263 678,558 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $8,605,859 $6,443,967 MFA MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Three Months Ended For the Year Ended December 31, December 31, 2007 2006 2007 2006 (In Thousands, Except Per (Unaudited) Share Amounts) Interest Income: MBS income $109,948 $70,836 $380,170 $216,871 Interest income on short-term cash investments 2,285 644 4,493 2,321 Interest income on income notes 51 - 158 - Interest Income 112,284 71,480 384,821 219,192 Interest Expense 88,881 62,114 321,305 181,922 Net Interest Income 23,403 9,366 63,516 37,270 Other Income: Net gain (loss) on sale of MBS 347 - (21,793) (23,113) Revenue from operations of real estate 407 396 1,638 1,556 Loss on early termination of Swaps - - (384) - Miscellaneous other income, net 95 121 422 708 Other Income (Loss) 849 517 (20,117) (20,849) Operating and Other Expense: Compensation and benefits 1,775 1,191 6,615 5,725 Real estate operating expense and mortgage interest 464 369 1,764 1,617 Other general and administrative 1,398 823 5,067 3,843 Operating and Other Expense 3,637 2,383 13,446 11,185 Income from Continuing Operations 20,615 7,500 29,953 5,236 Discontinued Operations: (Loss) gain on sale of real estate, net of tax - (408) 257 4,432 Loss from discontinued operations, net - (64) - (198) Mortgage prepayment penalty - (577) - (712) (Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations - (1,049) 257 3,522 Income Before Preferred Stock Dividends 20,615 6,451 30,210 8,758 Less: Preferred Stock Dividends 2,040 2,040 8,160 8,160 Net Income to Common Stockholders $18,575 $4,411 $22,050 $598 Earnings Per Share of Common Stock: Earnings (loss) from continuing operations - basic and diluted $0.16 $0.07 $0.24 $(0.03) (Loss) earnings from discontinued operations - basic and diluted - (0.01) - 0.04 Earnings per share - basic and diluted $0.16 $0.06 $0.24 $0.01 Dividends declared per share of common stock $0.145 $0.060 $0.415 $0.210 MFA MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Three Months Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31, 2007 2006 2007 2006 (In Thousands) (Unaudited) Net income before preferred stock dividends $20,615 $6,451 $30,210 $8,758 Other Comprehensive Income: Unrealized gain/(loss) on investment securities arising during the period, net 44,647 (8,935) 49,352 6,165 Reclassification adjustment for net losses included in net income from MBS 634 - 10,875 24,568 Unrealized loss on Caps arising during the period, net - (155) (83) (342) Unrealized (loss)/gain on Swaps arising during the period, net (72,296) 934 (100,252) (2,573) Comprehensive (loss)/income before preferred stock dividends (6,400) (1,705) (9,898) 36,576 Dividends on preferred stock (2,040) (2,040) (8,160) (8,160) Comprehensive (Loss)/Income to Common Stockholders $(8,440) $(3,745) $(18,058) $28,416