Anworth Announces 2020 Dividend Tax Information

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation (NYSE: ANH), a real estate investment trust (REIT), announced today the following tax treatment regarding its dividend distributions for the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

Generally, the portion of Anworth’s dividends that are characterized as ordinary income will be taxed at full ordinary income rates. However, for our 2020 fiscal year, none of our dividends are treated as ordinary income. For stockholders that are corporations, Anworth’s dividends are not eligible for the corporate dividends-received deduction.

Stockholders should check the tax statements they receive from brokerage firms to ensure that the Anworth dividend information reported in those statements conforms to the information reported herein. Effective in 2018, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act generally allows for a 20% deduction of REIT dividends treated as ordinary income. However, for our 2020 fiscal year, we did not have any REIT dividends treated as ordinary income. As each stockholder’s tax situation may be different, and each dividend distribution may have its own separate tax status, stockholders are encouraged to consult their tax advisors to determine the taxes that should be paid on Anworth’s dividend distributions.

The tables below provide detailed tax information relating to the quarterly dividend distributions paid to Anworth’s stockholders with respect to the 2020 tax year:

Because Anworth is a REIT, dividends declared in October, November, or December of a calendar year with a record date in that calendar year, but which are payable in January of the following year, are considered paid for Form 1099 reporting purposes on the record date, not on the payable date, to the extent the REIT has any remaining undistributed earnings and profits (as computed for income tax purposes) as of December 31 of that calendar year. The amounts shown above that were declared in the fourth quarter of 2020 but not paid until January 2021 represent the per share amount of the distributions paid which exceeded Anworth’s undistributed earnings and profits for income tax purposes as of December 31, 2020 and which were not included in the 2020 tax year but were carried over to 2021 as ordinary income for income tax purposes.

Dividends may be reinvested through Anworth’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Plan information may be obtained from the Plan Administrator, American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, at 877-248-6410, on Anworth’s web site at http://www.anworth.com, or by contacting Anworth at 310-255-4493.

About Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation

We are an externally-managed mortgage real estate investment trust (“REIT”). We invest primarily in mortgage-backed securities that are either rated “investment grade” or are guaranteed by federally sponsored enterprises, such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. We seek to generate income for distribution to our shareholders primarily based on the difference between the yield on our mortgage assets and the cost of our borrowings. We are managed by Anworth Management LLC (our “Manager”), pursuant to a management agreement. Our Manager is subject to the supervision and direction of our Board and is responsible for (i) the selection, purchase, and sale of our investment portfolio; (ii) our financing and hedging activities; and (iii) providing us with portfolio management, administrative, and other services and activities relating to our assets and operations as may be appropriate. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ANH.” Anworth Mortgage Asset Corporation is a component of the Russell 2000® Index.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Forward-looking statements, which are based on various assumptions (some of which are beyond our control) may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “may,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “estimate,” “intend,” “continue,” or other similar terms or variations on those terms or the negative of those terms. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including but not limited to, changes in interest rates; changes in the market value of our mortgage-backed securities; changes in the yield curve; the availability of mortgage-backed securities for purchase; increases in the prepayment rates on the mortgage loans securing our mortgage-backed securities; our ability to use borrowings to finance our assets and, if available, the terms of any financing; risks associated with investing in mortgage-related assets; the scope and duration of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, including actions taken by governmental authorities to contain the spread of the virus, and the impact on our business and the general economy; changes in business conditions and the general economy; implementation of or changes in government regulations affecting our business; our ability to maintain our qualification as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes; our ability to maintain an exemption from the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; risks associated with our home rental business; and our Manager’s ability to manage our growth. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other SEC filings discuss the most significant risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.