Bimini Capital Management, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“Bimini Capital” or the “Company”) formed in September 2003, is a holding company.  The Company operates in two business segments through its principal wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Royal Palm Capital LLC, which includes its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bimini Advisors Holdings.Holdings, LLC.

Bimini Advisors Holdings, LLC and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bimini Advisors, LLC (an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission), are collectively referred to as "Bimini Advisors."  Bimini Advisors manages a residential mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) portfolio for Orchid Island Capital, Inc. ("Orchid") and receives fees for providing these services. Bimini Advisors also manages the MBS portfolio of Royal Palm Capital, LLC.

Royal Palm Capital, LLC maintains an investment portfolio, consisting primarily of MBS investments, for its own benefit. Royal Palm Capital, LLC and its wholly-owned subsidiaries are collectively referred to as "Royal Palm."

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Bimini Capital, Bimini Advisors and Royal Palm.   All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

A variable interest entity ("VIE") is consolidated by an enterprise if it is deemed the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Bimini Capital has a common share investment in a trust used in connection with the issuance of Bimini Capital's junior subordinated notes. See Note 8 for a description of the accounting used for this VIE.

The Company obtains interests in VIEs through its investments in mortgage-backed securities.  The interests in these VIEs are passive in nature and are not expected to result in the Company obtaining a controlling financial interest in these VIEs in the future.  As a result, the Company does not consolidate these VIEs and accounts for the interest in these VIEs as mortgage-backed securities.  See Note 3 for additional information regarding the Company’s investments in mortgage-backed securities.  The maximum exposure to loss for these VIEs is the carrying value of the mortgage-backed securities.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 8 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they may not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Operating results for the nine and three month periodperiods ended March 31,September 30, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020.

The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2019 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements.  For further information, refer to the financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Beginning in mid-March 2020, the global pandemic associated with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 (“COVID-19”) and related economic conditions began to impact our financial position and results of operations. As a result of the economic, health and market turmoil brought about by COVID-19, the Agency MBS market experienced severe dislocations. This resulted in falling prices of our assets and increased margin calls from our repurchase agreement lenders. Further, as interest rates declined, we faced additional margin calls related to our various hedge positions. In order to maintain our leverage ratio at prudent levels, maintain sufficient cash and liquidity, reduce risk and satisfy margin calls, we sold assets at levels significantly below their carrying values. We timely satisfied all margin calls.values and closed several hedge positions. The Agency MBS market largely stabilized after the Federal Reserve announced on March 23, 2020 that it would purchase Agency MBS and U.S. Treasuries in the amounts needed to support smooth market functioning. As of September 30, 2020, we had timely satisfied all margin calls. The following summarizes the impact COVID-19 has had on our financial position and results of operations through March 31,September 30, 2020.

In response to the Shelter in Place order issued in Florida in March 2020, management has invoked the Company’s Disaster Recovery Plan and its employees are working remotely. Prior planning resulted in the successful implementation of this plan and key operational team members maintain daily communication.

The CARES Act also makes technical corrections to, or modifies on a temporary basis, certain provisions of the U.S. Income Tax Code. Significant income tax impacts of the CARES Act include the ability to carry back an NOLa net operating loss for 5 years and an increase in the interest expense disallowance limitations from 30% to 50% of adjusted taxable income.  The Company is assessingThose changes did not significantly impact the potential impact of the CARES Act onconsolidated financial statements or the Company’s 2019 income tax return to be filed later in 2020, as well as the 2020 tax provision but do not believe that those changes will significantly impact the consolidated financial statements.return.

The Company has evaluated the other provisions of the CARES Act and does not believe it will have a material effect on ourthe Company’s business, results of operations and financial statements.condition. The Federal Housing Financing Agency (the “FHFA”) has instructed the GSEs on how they will handle servicer advances for loans that back Agency RMBS that enter into forbearance, which should limit prepayments during the forbearance period that could have resulted otherwise. During the forbearance period the Company will continue to receive scheduled principal and interest each month on its Agency RMBS securities. There can be no assurance as to how, in the long term, these and other actions by the U.S. government will affect the efficiency, liquidity and stability of the financial and mortgage markets. To the extent the financial or mortgage markets do not respond favorably to any of these actions, or such actions do not function as intended, our business, results of operations and financial condition may continue to be materially adversely affected.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Significant estimates affecting the accompanying consolidated financial statements include determining the fair values of MBS, investment in Orchid common shares derivatives and retained interests,derivatives, determining the amounts of asset valuation allowances, the impairment for the real property held for sale, and the computation of the income tax provision or benefit and the deferred tax asset allowances recorded for each accounting period. Management believes the estimates and assumptions underlying the financial statements are reasonable based on the information available as of March 31,September 30, 2020, however uncertainty over the ultimate impact that COVID-19 will have on the global economy generally, and on our business in particular, makes any estimates and assumptions as of March 31,September 30, 2020 inherently less certain than they would be absent the current and potential impacts of COVID-19.

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on deposit with financial institutions and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase. Restricted cash includes cash pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements and derivative instruments.  The following table presents the Company’s cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of March 31,September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

The Company maintains cash balances at several banks and excess margin with an exchange clearing member. At times, balances may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses related to these balances. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures eligible accounts up to $250,000 per depositor at each financial institution. Restricted cash balances are uninsured, but are held in separate accounts that are segregated from the general funds of the counterparty.  The Company limits uninsured balances to only large, well-known banks and exchange clearing members and believes that it is not exposed to significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents or restricted cash balances.

The Company invests primarily in mortgage pass-through (“PT”) mortgage backed certificates issued by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or Ginnie Mae (“MBS”), collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”), interest-only (“IO”) securities and inverse interest-only (“IIO”) securities representing interest in or obligations backed by pools of mortgage-backed loans. We refer to MBS and CMOs as PT MBS. We refer to IO and IIO securities as structured MBS. The Company has elected to account for its investment in MBS under the fair value option.  Electing the fair value option requires the Company to record changes in fair value in the consolidated statement of operations, which, in management’s view, more appropriately reflects the results of our operations for a particular reporting period and is consistent with the underlying economics and how the portfolio is managed.

The Company records MBS transactions on the trade date.  Security purchases that have not settled as of the balance sheet date are included in the MBS balance with an offsetting liability recorded, whereas securities sold that have not settled as of the balance sheet date are removed from the MBS balance with an offsetting receivable recorded.

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell the asset or paid to transfer the liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  The fair value measurement assumes that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability either occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability, or in the absence of a principal market, occurs in the most advantageous market for the asset or liability. Estimated fair values for MBS are based on independent pricing sources and/or third-party broker quotes, when available.

Income on PT MBS is based on the stated interest rate of the security. Premiums or discounts present at the date of purchase are not amortized.  Premium lost and discount accretion resulting from monthly principal repayments are reflected in unrealized gains and losses on MBS in the consolidated statements of operations.  For IO securities, the income is accrued based on the carrying value and the effective yield. The difference between income accrued and the interest received on the security is characterized as a return of investment and serves to reduce the asset’s carrying value. At each reporting date, the effective yield is adjusted prospectively for future reporting periods based on the new estimate of prepayments and the contractual terms of the security.  For IIO securities, effective yield and income recognition calculations also take into account the index value applicable to the security.  Changes in fair value of MBS during each reporting period are recorded in earnings and reported as unrealized gains or losses on mortgage-backed securities in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The amount reported as unrealized gains or losses on mortgage backed securities thus captures the net effect of changes in the fair market value of securities caused by market developments and any premium or discount lost as a result of principal repayments during the period.

RetainedThe Company holds retained interests in the subordinated tranches of securities created in securitization transactions were initially recorded at their fair value when issued by Royal Palm.transactions. These retained interests currently have a recorded fair value of zero, as the prospect of future cash flows being received is very uncertain, but they may generate cash flows in the future.uncertain. Any cash received from the retained interests is reflected in the consolidated statement of cash flows. Realized gains and subsequent adjustments to fair value are reflectedas a gain in the consolidated statements of operations.

The Company uses derivative instruments to manage interest rate risk, facilitate asset/liability strategies and manage other exposures, and it may continue to do so in the future. The principal instruments that the Company has used to date are Treasury Note (“T-Note”) and Eurodollar futures contracts, and “to-be-announced” (“TBA”) securities transactions, but it may enter into other derivative instruments in the future.

The Company accounts for TBA securities as derivative instruments. Gains and losses associated with TBA securities transactions are reported in gain (loss) on derivative instruments in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Derivative instruments are carried at fair value, and changes in fair value are recorded in the consolidated operations for each period. The Company’s derivative financial instruments are not designated as hedge accounting relationships, but rather are used as economic hedges of its portfolio assets and liabilities.

Holding derivatives creates exposure to credit risk related to the potential for failure by counterparties to honor their commitments.  In addition, the Company may be required to post collateral based on any declines in the market value of the derivatives.  In the event of default by a counterparty, the Company may have difficulty recovering its collateral and may not receive payments provided for under the terms of the agreement.  To mitigate this risk, the Company uses only well-established commercial banks as counterparties.

The fair value of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value is disclosed, either in the body of the financial statements or in the accompanying notes. MBS, Orchid common stock and derivative assets and liabilities are accounted for at fair value in the consolidated balance sheets. The methods and assumptions used to estimate fair value for these instruments are presented in Note 1413 of the consolidated financial statements.

The estimated fair value of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accrued interest receivable, other assets, repurchase agreements, accrued interest payable and other liabilities generally approximates their carrying value as of March 31,September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments.

It is impractical to estimate the fair value of the Company’s junior subordinated notes.  Currently, there is a limited market for these types of instruments and the Company is unable to ascertain what interest rates would be available to the Company for similar financial instruments. Further information regarding these instruments is presented in Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.

Property and equipment, net, consists of computer equipment with a depreciable life of 3 years, office furniture and equipment with depreciable lives of 8 to 20 years, land which has no depreciable life, and buildings and improvements with depreciable lives of 30 years.  Property and equipment is recorded at acquisition cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets.

The Company finances the acquisition of the majority of its PT MBS through the use of repurchase agreements under master repurchase agreements. Repurchase agreements are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions, which are carried at their contractual amounts, including accrued interest, as specified in the respective agreements.

For stock and stock-based awards issued to employees, a compensation charge is recorded against earnings over the vesting period based on the fair value of the award.  The Company applies a zero forfeiture rate for its equity based awards, as such awards have been granted to a limited number of employees and historical forfeitures have been minimal.  A significant forfeiture, or an indication that significant forfeitures may occur, would result in a revised forfeiture rate which would be accounted for prospectively as a change in an estimate.

Basic EPS is calculated as income available to common stockholders divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is calculated using the treasury stock or two-class method, as applicable for common stock equivalents. However, the common stock equivalents are not included in computing diluted EPS if the result is anti-dilutive.

Outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, participating and convertible into Class A Common Stock, are entitled to receive dividends in an amount equal to the dividends declared, if any, on each share of Class A Common Stock. Accordingly, shares of the Class B Common Stock are included in the computation of basic EPS using the two-class method and, consequently, are presented separately from Class A Common Stock.

The shares of Class C Common Stock are not included in the basic EPS computation as these shares do not have participation rights. The outstanding shares of Class B and Class C Common Stock are not included in the computation of diluted EPS for the Class A Common Stock as the conditions for conversion into shares of Class A Common Stock were not met.

Income taxes are provided for using the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the differences between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. The measurement of net deferred tax assets is adjusted by a valuation allowance if, based on the Company’s evaluation, it is more likely than not that they will not be realized.

The Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns for years ended on or after December 31, 20162017 remain open for examination. Although management believes its calculations for tax returns are correct and the positions taken thereon are reasonable, the final outcome of tax audits could be materially different from the tax returns filed by the Company, and those differences could result in significant costs or benefits to the Company. For tax filing purposes, Bimini Capital and its includable subsidiaries, and Royal Palm, and its includable subsidiaries, file as separate tax paying entities.

The Company assesses the likelihood, based on their technical merit, that uncertain tax positions will be sustained upon examination based on the facts, circumstances and information available at the end of each period.  The measurement of uncertain tax positions is adjusted when new information is available, or when an event occurs that requires a change. The Company recognizes tax positions in the financial statements only when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by the relevant taxing authority based on the technical merits of the position. A position that meets this standard is measured at the largest amount of benefit that will more likely than not be realized upon settlement. The difference between the benefit recognized and the tax benefit claimed on a tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit and is recorded as a liability in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company records income tax-related interest and penalties, if applicable, within the income tax provision.

InOn January 1, 2020, we adopted Accounting Standards codification Topic 326, Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326). Topic 326: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 requires the recognition of credit losses on most financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other instruments to be measured using an expected credit loss model (referred to as the current expected credit loss (CECL) model). The Company’s adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements as its financial assets were already measured at fair value through earnings.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.”  ASU 2020-04 provides optional expedients and exceptions to GAAP requirements for modifications on debt instruments, leases, derivatives, and other contracts, related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR,”), and certain other floating rate benchmark indices, or collectively, IBORs, to alternative reference rates. ASU 2020-04 generally considers contract modifications related to reference rate reform to be an event that does not require contract remeasurement at the modification date nor a reassessment of a previous accounting determination. The guidance in ASU 2020-04 is optional and may be elected over time, through December 31, 2022, as reference rate reform activities occur. The Company does not believe the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Bimini Advisors serves as the manager and advisor for Orchid pursuant to the terms of a management agreement.  As Manager, Bimini Advisors is responsible for administering Orchid's business activities and day-to-day operations. Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement, Bimini Advisors provides Orchid with its management team, including its officers, along with appropriate support personnel. Bimini Advisors is at all times subject to the supervision and oversight of Orchid's board of directors and has only such functions and authority as delegated to it. Bimini Advisors receives a monthly management fee in the amount of:

Orchid is obligated to reimburse Bimini Advisors for any direct expenses incurred on its behalf and to pay to Bimini Advisors an amount equal to Orchid's pro rata portion of certain overhead costs set forth in the management agreement. The management agreement has been renewed through February 20, 2021 and provides for automatic one-year extension options thereafter. Should Orchid terminate the management agreement without cause, it will be obligated to pay Bimini Advisors a termination fee equal to three times the average annual management fee, as defined in the management agreement, before or on the last day of the automatic renewal term.

The following table summarizes the advisory services revenue from Orchid for the nine and three months ended March 31,September 30, 2020 and 2019.

At March 31,September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the net amount due from Orchid was approximately $0.5$0.6 million and $0.6 million, respectively. These amounts are included in “other assets” in the consolidated balance sheets.

The following table presents the Company’s MBS portfolio as of March 31,September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

The Company pledges certain of its MBS as collateral under repurchase agreements with financial institutions. Interest rates are generally fixed based on prevailing rates corresponding to the terms of the borrowings, and interest is generally paid at the termination of a borrowing. If the fair value of the pledged securities declines, lenders will typically require the Company to post additional collateral or pay down borrowings to re-establish agreed upon collateral requirements, referred to as "margin calls." Similarly, if the fair value of the pledged securities increases, lenders may release collateral back to the Company. As of March 31,September 30, 2020, the Company had met all margin call requirements.

As of March 31,September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company’s repurchase agreements had remaining maturities as summarized below:

In addition, cash pledged to counterparties for repurchase agreements was approximately $0.9$1.3 million and $3.8 million as of March 31,September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

If, during the term of a repurchase agreement, a lender files for bankruptcy, the Company might experience difficulty recovering its pledged assets, which could result in an unsecured claim against the lender for the difference between the amount loaned to the Company plus interest due to the counterparty and the fair value of the collateral pledged to such lender, including the accrued interest receivable, and cash posted by the Company as collateral, if any.  At March 31,September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had an aggregate amount at risk (the difference between the amount loaned to the Company, including interest payable, and the fair value of securities and cash pledged (if any), including accrued interest on such securities) with all counterparties of approximately $3.1$3.9 million and $11.8 million, respectively.  The Company did not have an amount at risk with any individual counterparty greater than 10% of the Company’s equity at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. As of September 30, 2020, the Company had amounts at risk greater than 10% of the Company’s equity as follows:.

The table below summarizes fair value information about our derivative liabilities as of March 31,September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Eurodollar and T-Note futures are cash settled futures contracts on an interest rate, with gains and losses credited or charged to the Company’s cash accounts on a daily basis. A minimum balance, or “margin”, is required to be maintained in the account on a daily basis. The tables below present information related to the Company’s Eurodollar and T-note futures positions at March 31,September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

The table below presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments on the consolidated statements of operations for the nine and three months ended March 31,September 30, 2020 and 2019.

The use of derivatives creates exposure to credit risk relating to potential losses that could be recognized in the event that the counterparties to these instruments fail to perform their obligations under the contracts. The Company attempts to minimize this risk in several ways.  For instruments which are not centrally cleared on a registered exchange, the Company limits its counterparties to major financial institutions with acceptable credit ratings, and by monitoring positions with individual counterparties. In addition, the Company may be required to pledge assets as collateral for its derivatives, whose amounts vary over time based on the market value, notional amount and remaining term of the derivative contract. In the event of a default by a counterparty, the Company may not receive payments provided for under the terms of its derivative agreements, and may have difficulty recovering its assets pledged as collateral for its derivatives. The cash and cash equivalents pledged as collateral for the Company’s derivative instruments are included in restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheets. It is the Company's policy not to offset assets and liabilities associated with open derivative contracts. However, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) rules characterize variation margin transfers as settlement payments, as opposed to adjustments to collateral. As a result, derivative assets and liabilities associated with centrally cleared derivatives for which the CME serves as the central clearing party are presented as if these derivatives had been settled as of the reporting date.

The table below summarizes Bimini’s assets pledged as collateral under its repurchase agreements and derivative agreements as of March 31,September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

The table below summarizes cash pledged to Bimini from counterparties under repurchase agreements and derivative agreements as of March 31,September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. Cash received as margin is recognized in cash and cash equivalents with a corresponding amount recognized as an increase in repurchase agreements or other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company’s derivatives and repurchase agreements are subject to underlying agreements with master netting or similar arrangements, which provide for the right of offset in the event of default or in the event of bankruptcy of either party to the transactions.  The Company reports its assets and liabilities subject to these arrangements on a gross basis.  The following tables present information regarding those assets and liabilities subject to such arrangements as if the Company had presented them on a net basis as of March 31,September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.