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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.  )

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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material underPursuant to §240.14a-12
Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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CHERRY HILL MORTGAGE INVESTMENT CORPORATION
1451 Route 34, Suite 303
Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2022The 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation (the “Company”) will be held on June 16, 2022,13, 2024, at 8:00 a.m., Eastern Time. At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders will be asked to vote on the following matters:
1.
the election to the Board of Directors of the Company of the four director nominees named in the attached Proxy Statement, to servehold office until the 2023 Annual Meetingnext annual meeting of Stockholdersstockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;
2.
the approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2021;2023;
3.
the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022;2024;
4.
the approval of a proposed amendment to the Company’s charter to remove the board of directors’ exclusive power to amend the Company’s bylaws and make new bylaws; and
4.5.
such other business as may properly be brought before the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
We know of no other matters to come before the Annual Meeting. Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 8, 20222024 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement of the meeting.
Due to the continuing public health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support the health and well being of our stockholders and our community, theThe Annual Meeting will be held over the web in a virtual meeting format only. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. To access the virtual Annual Meeting pleaseonline, go to www.meetingcenter.io/230710419.meetnow.global/MKDMG4S.
Whether or not you plan to participate in the virtual Annual Meeting, your vote is very important, and we encourage you to vote promptly. If you vote by proxy, but later decide to participate in the virtual Annual Meeting online, or for any other reason desire to revoke your proxy, you may do so at any time before your proxy is voted.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Michael Hutchby
Michael Hutchby,
Secretary
Farmingdale, New Jersey
April 27, 202219, 2024
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 16, 2022
The notice of meeting, proxy statement and annual report are available at www.edocumentview.com/CHMI.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON JUNE 13, 2024
The notice of meeting, proxy statement and annual report are available at www.envisionreports.com/CHMI.


CHERRY HILL MORTGAGE INVESTMENT CORPORATION
1451 Route 34, Suite 303
Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727
(877) 870-7005
PROXY STATEMENT
2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Board of Directors (our “Board”) of Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (“we,” “our,” “us” or “our company”), has made these materials available to you in connection with its solicitation of proxies for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 16, 2022, at 8:00 a.m., Eastern Time, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. Due to the continuing public heath impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support the health and well-being of our stockholders and our community, the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) will be held over the web in a virtual meeting format only. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.1
All stockholders will have the ability to access our proxy materials at www.edocumentview.com/CHMI.
In addition to solicitation through the Internet or by mail, certain of our directors and officers may solicit proxies by telephone, personal contact or other means of communication. They will not receive any additional compensation for these activities. In addition, brokers, banks and other persons holding common stock on behalf of beneficial owners will be requested to solicit proxies or authorizations from beneficial owners. We will bear all costs incurred in connection with the preparation, assembly and furnishing of our proxy materials and the solicitation of proxies and will reimburse brokers, banks and other nominees, fiduciaries and custodians for reasonable expenses incurred by them in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of our common stock. Although no proxy solicitor has been engaged at this time, we may determine it is necessary to employ an outside firm to assist in the solicitation process. If so, we will pay the proxy solicitor reasonable and customary fees.
No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representation not contained in this Proxy Statement and, if given or made, you should not rely on that information or representation as having been authorized by us. The information contained in this Proxy Statement is accurate only as of the date of this Proxy Statement.
The mailing address of our principal executive office is 1451 Route 34, Suite 303, Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727, and our main telephone number is (877) 870-7005. We maintain an Internet website at www.chmireit.com. Information at or connected to our website is not and should not be considered part of this Proxy Statement.
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You are being asked to vote on the following proposals:2
election to the Board of the four director nominees named in this Proxy Statement (Proposal No. 1);
approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2021 (the “Say-on-Pay Proposal”) (Proposal No. 2); and
ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 (Proposal No. 3).
Holders of our common stock as of the close of business on the record date, April 8, 2022, are entitled to vote, either online or by proxy, at the virtual Annual Meeting. Each share of our common stock has one vote.2
Due to the continuing public heath impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to support the health and well-being of our stockholders and our community,2
using the telephone or Internet voting procedures described on the accompanying proxy card; or
by completing and signing your proxy card and mailing it in time to be received prior to the Annual Meeting.
You may vote your shares during the virtual Annual Meeting until such time as the chairman declares the polls closed by visiting meetnow.global/MTFRHFG and following the instructions. To login to the virtual meeting you will be required to have a control number.
If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you must register in advance to participate in the virtual Annual Meeting. To register, you must submit proof of your proxy power (legal proxy) reflecting your Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation holdings along with your name and email address to Computershare Trust Company, N.A., our transfer agent (“Computershare”). Requests for registration must be labeled as “Legal Proxy” and be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 13, 2022. You will receive a confirmation email from Computershare of your registration.
Requests for registration should be directed to Computershare by forwarding the email from your broker, or attach an image of your legal proxy, to legalproxy@computershare.com.
The telephone and Internet voting procedures are designed to confirm your identity, to allow you to give your voting instructions and to verify that your instructions have been properly recorded. If you wish to vote by telephone or Internet, please follow the instructions that are included on the accompanying proxy card. If you mail us your properly completed and signed proxy card, or vote by telephone or Internet, your shares will be voted according to the choices that you specify.
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If you submit a signed proxy without marking any choices, your proxy will be voted:
FOR the election of all director nominees named in this Proxy Statement;
FOR the approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation paid to our named executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2021; and
FOR the ratification of the appointment of EY as our registered independent public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022.
We do not expect any other matters to be brought before the virtual Annual Meeting. However, by giving your proxy, you appoint the persons named as proxies as your representatives at the virtual Annual Meeting. If any matter requiring a stockholder vote is properly presented at the virtual Annual Meeting and that matter is not described in our proxy materials, the proxy holders will vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment.
Yes. You may change your vote or revoke your proxy at any time prior to the virtual Annual Meeting by:4
notifying our Secretary in writing at 1451 Route 34, Suite 303, Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727, that you are revoking your proxy;
executing or authorizing, dating and delivering to us a new proxy that is dated after the proxy you wish to revoke; or
participating in the virtual Annual Meeting and voting online during the virtual Annual Meeting.
It depends on whether you hold your shares in your own name or in street name. If you hold your shares directly in your own name, they will not be voted unless you provide a proxy or vote online during the virtual Annual Meeting.4
Brokerage firms generally have the authority to vote customers’ un-voted shares on certain “routine” matters. If your shares are held in street name by a brokerage firm, the brokerage firm can vote your shares for the ratification of the appointment of EY as our registered independent public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 (Proposal No. 3) if you do not timely provide your voting instructions, because this matter is considered “routine” under the applicable rules. The other items (Proposals Nos. 1 and 2) are considered “non-routine,” and the brokerage firm cannot vote your shares without your specific voting instruction.
As of the record date, a total of 18,890,716 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the virtual Annual Meeting. In order to conduct the virtual Annual Meeting, a majority of the shares entitled to vote must be in attendance on line at the virtual Annual Meeting or represented by proxy. This is referred to as a “quorum.” If you submit a properly executed proxy card or vote by telephone or on the Internet, you will be considered part of the quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. If a quorum is not present, the virtual Annual Meeting may be adjourned or postponed from time to time until a quorum is obtained, to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement during the virtual Annual Meeting. A broker non-vote occurs when a nominee who holds shares in street name has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner of the shares and either chooses not to vote those shares on a routine matter or is not permitted to vote those shares on a non-routine matter.4
Election of Directors (Proposal No. 1). Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the virtual Annual Meeting. “Plurality” means that the nominees receiving the largest number of votes cast are elected as directors up to the maximum number of directors to be chosen at the virtual Annual Meeting. For purposes of this vote, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote for this proposal.
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Say-on-Pay (Proposal No. 2). The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the virtual Annual Meeting is required to approve the Say-on-Pay Proposal. For purposes of this vote, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote for this proposal.
Ratification of Appointment of EY (Proposal No. 3). The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the virtual Annual Meeting is required to approve this proposal. For purposes of this vote, abstentions will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote for this proposal. Because this matter is considered “routine” under applicable rules, we do not expect there to be any broker non-votes on this proposal.
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PROPOSAL NO. 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our Board has fixed the number of directors at four. The four persons named below (each, a “director nominee”) currently serve on our Board and have been recommended by our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and nominated by our Board to serve on our Board until our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified.
Our Board has no reason to believe that any of the director nominees will be unable, or will decline, to serve if elected. If any director nominee is unable to stand for election, the persons appointed to vote your proxy may vote at the virtual Annual Meeting for another candidate proposed by our Board, or our Board may choose to reduce the size of our Board, provided that we continue to have a majority of independent directors following any such reduction. In addition, our Board has determined that all of the director nominees, other than Mr. Lown, are independent under applicable rules of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”).
The following table sets forth the name, position with our Company and age at the virtual Annual Meeting of each director nominee:
Name
Position
Age
Jeffrey B. Lown II
President and Chief Executive Officer
58
Robert C. Mercer, Jr.
Independent Director
74
Joseph P. Murin
Independent Director
72
Regina M. Lowrie
Independent Director
685
We believe that all of the director nominees are intelligent, experienced and proactive with respect to management and risk oversight, and that they exercise good judgment. The biographical descriptions below set forth certain information with respect to each director nominee, including the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each director nominee that led us to conclude that such person should serve as a director.
Jeffrey B. Lown II has served as our President and as a director since the completion of our initial public offering in October 2013 and as our Chief Executive Officer since March 2017. Mr. Lown also served as our Chief Investment Officer through March 2016, at which time Julian Evans was appointed as Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Lown has over 25 years of combined experience in the financial services industry and the residential mortgage markets. Mr. Lown joined Freedom Mortgage Corporation (“Freedom Mortgage”) in April 2012 and served as Executive Vice President in charge of strategic funding projects and capital markets until July 2016, at which time he began to focus his full-time efforts on us and the management of our business. Prior to joining Freedom Mortgage, Mr. Lown served as a Portfolio Manager at Avenue Capital Group from April 2011 to January 2012. Prior to co-founding and serving as a principal of Green Lake Investment Partners, LLC in the fall of 2010, Mr. Lown spent 11 months at New Oak Capital LLC as head of the residential mortgage loan business and as a member of the bank advisory group. Prior to joining New Oak Capital, Mr. Lown was a fellow at the Office of Thrift Supervision (the “OTS”), from March 2008 through September 2009. At the OTS, he served as an advisor to the Senior Deputy Director’s office and focused on residential mortgage loan origination and residential asset valuation and RMBS. Noteworthy assignments included participating in the creation of the Obama administration’s “Making Home Affordable” modification program, the review of TARP Capital Purchase Program applications for OTS thrifts and working with the Acting Deputy Director of Examinations, Supervision, and Consumer Protection and regional staff on troubled institutions.Nominees
Before OTS, from April 2002 to March 2008, Mr. Lown worked at UBS Securities LLC in mortgage trading. While at UBS Securities, Mr. Lown managed an internal mortgage origination platform specializing in Alt-A mortgage loans, overseeing all units within the organization, including sales, capital markets and operations. Mr. Lown began his career at Salomon Brothers (now Citigroup) in 1991, where he spent 11 years working for the mortgage trading desk. The last six years at Citigroup were in the Mortgage Finance Group where Mr. Lown held several positions both in investment banking and mortgage finance roles. While serving in these positions, he developed strong credit, contract finance and securitization skills.
As a consequence of Mr. Lown’s more than 20 years’ experience in the residential mortgage markets, our Board, upon the recommendation of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, believes that he is well qualified to provide valuable advice in many important areas and that he should serve as a director.
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Robert C. Mercer, Jr. has served as a director, chairman of our Audit Committee and member of our Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee since March 15, 2017. Mr. Mercer has over 40 years of management and executive experience in generating and servicing consumer loans and mortgages. From July 2009 to March 2017, Mr. Mercer served as a Senior Examiner/Subject Matter Expert —Credit Risk, Operations and Counterparty Management at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) in Washington, D.C. At FHFA, Mr. Mercer monitored Freddie Mac’s seller/servicer and mortgage insurance counterparty risk analysis focusing on concentration of risk, regulatory risk and servicing transfer approvals. He also monitored Freddie Mac’s credit loss forecasting and loan loss reserve adequacy for its single family and multifamily loan portfolios.
Prior to his work at FHFA, Mr. Mercer’s experience includes managing problem portfolio workouts, managing due diligence processes involving mergers and acquisitions, purchasing mortgage portfolios and developing or enhancing profit and risk models to improve portfolio predictability and profitability. In addition to his operational experience, he also has an extensive credit risk background, having been Chief Credit Officer of Citicorp National Services. Mr. Mercer has been involved in all aspects of credit risk management, including the development of proprietary score cards.
As President of American Equity Mortgage, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Mercer was responsible for expanding the retail branch network and improving operational efficiencies. Mr. Mercer has held senior executive and management positions in consumer lending at a series of financial institutions that ultimately became part of National City Bank, including Equibank, Integra Bank and Altegra Credit Company. Prior to that, Mr. Mercer held positions at Citicorp and Valley National Bank in Phoenix, Arizona after beginning his career spending thirteen-years at Ford Motor Credit Company.
Mr. Mercer brings to our Board over 40 years of experience in the consumer lending and mortgage industry sectors. Due to the depth and extent of his financial and credit risk management experience, our Board, upon the recommendation of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, believes that he should serve as a director.
President George W. Bush nominated Mr. Murin in October 2007 to serve as President of Ginnie Mae, a position which he held from July 2008 to August 2009. He also served as a consultant to the White House until he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate from January 2008 until May 2008. Prior to his nomination to serve as President of Ginnie Mae, Mr. Murin was with HUD for two years, to which he brought more than 40 years of diverse experience in the financial services, mortgage and banking industries. This experience includes having served as the Chief Executive Officer of a number of financial organizations such as Century Mortgage Co. from September 1986 to January 1989, Lender’s Service Inc. from May 1991 to December 2001, and Mortgage Settlement Network Innovations from September 2004 to August 2007. Mr. Murin served as a director for iGATE Corporation (NASDAQ: IGTE) from August 2009 to April 2013. Mr. Murin holds a bachelor’s degree in business from National Louis University.
As a consequence of Mr. Murin’s more than 40 years’ experience in the financial services, mortgage and banking industries, including his service as President of Ginnie Mae, our Board, upon the recommendation of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, believes that he is well qualified to provide valuable advice to our Board in many important areas and that he should serve as a director.
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Regina Lowrie has served as a director, chairman of our Compensation Committee and member of our Audit Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee since the 2015 Annual Meeting and is independent in accordance with applicable NYSE and SEC rules. With more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Ms. Lowrie’s background includes senior management positions in sales, operations, acquisitions and investments, enterprise risk management, regulatory oversight, policies, and procedures. She is a Certified Mortgage Banker (CMB) and holds the distinction of being the first woman Chairman of the National Mortgage Bankers Association in the organization’s 94-year history. Ms. Lowrie also was the first woman to lead the local chapter of the Philadelphia Mortgage Bankers Association.
Ms. Lowrie is the founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dytrix, Incorporated. Dytrix is a financial technology company that enables secure financial transactions for institutions through the Dytrix Platform which includes wire/ACH transfer validation and closing agent management. Ms. Lowrie is also the founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of RML Advisors, headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. RML Advisors’ charter is to serve the financial services industry as an advisor and consultant providing a broad range of services to assist clients in developing a blueprint for success in a volatile market with numerous regulatory challenges. RML Advisors also specializes in helping mortgage banking clients analyze various enterprise risks including compliance risks associated with service providers. From 2007 to 2013, Ms. Lowrie was the President of Vision Mortgage Capital, a division of Continental Bank, and Senior Vice President of Continental Bank. She was responsible for creating, developing, directing, and managing all aspects of the mortgage division, including strategic planning, enterprise risk management, quality control, compliance, secondary marketing and sales operations and budgeting process.
From 1994 to 2006, Ms. Lowrie was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Gateway Funding Diversified Mortgage Services, located in Horsham, Pennsylvania. At the time Gateway Funding was sold in 2006, Gateway Funding had grown to 800 employees with 57 branch offices and had a loan production of $3.5 billion with revenues of over $100 million. Prior to 1994, Ms. Lowrie held executive and senior management positions at Commonwealth Federal Savings and Loan and subsequently Comnet Mortgage Services.
Based on Ms. Lowrie’s more than 30 years of experience in all aspects of the residential mortgage business, our Board, upon the recommendation of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, believes that she should serve as a director.
Our Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of each director nominee named above
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Our Board believes that the combination of its current composition, leadership structure and the intelligent, experienced and diverse perspectives of the directors provides the proper independent and expert oversight of our company’s business, strategy and management. Some of the governance and leadership highlights include the following:
annual election of each director for a one-year term;
each stockholder is entitled to one vote per share;
a strong independent leadership structure with a Lead Independent Director;Director
diversified board composition with more than 90 years of collective experience in mortgage finance;8
no over-boarded directors;Director Independence
board committees consist solely of independent directors;8
75% of the board is independent; and
regular, annual performance evaluations of the directors.
Our Board of Directors
Our business is managed by Cherry Hill Mortgage Management, LLC (the “Manager”), subject to the oversight and direction of our Board. Our Manager is an SEC-registered investment adviser and is responsible for administering our business activities and day-to-day operations. The directors are informed about our business at meetings of our Board and its committees and through supplemental reports and communications.
There were four regular meetings of our Board in 2021 and no special meetings. Each director attended all of the meetings of our Board. Each independent director also attended all committee meetings for the committees on which the director served in 2021. Although our company does not have a policy regarding board members’ attendance at the Annual Meeting, all of our directors participated in the 2021 virtual Annual Meeting. In accordance with NYSE requirements and our Corporate Governance Guidelines the independent directors of our Board regularly meet in executive session without management present. Generally, these executive sessions follow a meeting of our Board or of our Audit Committee. If the executive session follows a meeting of the Audit Committee, the chairman of the Audit Committee will preside over the executive session. If the executive session follows a meeting of our Board, the lead independent director will preside over the executive session. In 2021, the independent directors of our Board met in executive session seven times without management present.
Our Board has established three standing committees that are comprised solely of independent directors, the principal functions of which are briefly described below. Matters put to a vote at any one of our three committees must be approved by a majority of the directors on the committee who are present at a meeting at which there is a quorum or by unanimous written consent of the directors on that committee.
Lead Independent Director
Mr. Murin, the chairman of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, serves as the lead independent director. The lead independent director generally is the point of contact for persons desiring to communicate directly with the independent directors. All interested parties may do so by using the IR Contact tab under the Investor Relations section on our website, which is www.chmireit.com, and leaving a message.
Director Independence
Our Board has determined, after taking into account all facts and circumstances, that there are no material transactions, relationships or arrangements between us and Mr. Mercer, Mr. Murin or Ms. Lowrie requiring disclosure under applicable SEC rules and regulations or otherwise and that each of them is independent in accordance with applicable NYSE rules.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, which provide the framework for our governance and represent our Board’s current views with respect to selected corporate governance issues considered to be of significance to our stockholders.
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Our Board has established a Code of Business Conduct9
Anti-Hedging Policy9
Our Board has adopted a policy prohibiting all of the directors, officers and employees and certain “related persons” (as defined in the policy) of such persons of our company and its subsidiaries and affiliates from engaging in hedging or monetization transactions and other speculative transactions involving our company’s securities.Political Activity
Under the policy, a covered person may not, directly or indirectly, engage in any kind of hedging or monetization transaction against future declines in the market value of any equity-based securities of our company that could reduce or limit such person’s economic risk with respect to holdings, ownership or interest in or to our common stock or other securities of our company, including without limitation outstanding stock options, restricted stock, LTIP Units (as defined below) or other compensation awards the value of which are derived from, referenced to or based on the value or market price of our common stock or other securities of our company. Pursuant to the policy, a “short sale,” or sale of securities that the seller does not own at the time of sale or, if owned, that will not be delivered within 20 days of the sale, is an example of a prohibited hedging transaction. Prohibited transactions under the policy also include the purchase by a covered person of financial instruments, including, without limitation, prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, puts, calls, exchange funds, or other derivative securities that are designed to hedge or offset a decrease in market value of equity securities of our company. The policy does not, however, restrict holding, exercising, or settling awards such as options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred stock units, LTIP Units, or other derivative securities granted under our company’s equity incentive plans.9
Persons who violate our anti-hedging policy may be subject to disciplinary action by our company. Such disciplinary action may include, but is not limited to, termination of employment and/or restrictions on future participation in incentive plans.
Stockholders may view our corporate governance materials, including10


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1451 Route 34, Suite 303
Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727
(877) 870-7005
PROXY STATEMENT
2024 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Proxy Solicitation
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (“we, “our,” “us” or “our company”), has made these materials available to you in connection with its solicitation of proxies for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 13, 2024, at 8:00 a.m., Eastern Time, and any adjournment or postponement thereof. The 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) will be held over the web in a virtual meeting format only. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. To access the Annual Meeting online, go to meetnow.global/MKDMG4S. The approximate date on which this Proxy Statement, the proxy card and other accompany materials are first being sent to stockholders is May 8, 2024.
In addition to solicitation through the Internet or by mail, certain of our directors and officers may solicit proxies by telephone, personal contact or other means of communication. They will not receive any additional compensation for these activities. In addition, brokers, banks and other persons holding common stock on behalf of beneficial owners will be requested to solicit proxies or authorizations from beneficial owners. We will bear all costs incurred in connection with the preparation, assembly and furnishing of our proxy materials and the solicitation of proxies and will reimburse brokers, banks and other nominees, fiduciaries and custodians for reasonable expenses incurred by them in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of our common stock. We have engaged Morrow Sodali LLC (“Morrow”) to solicit proxies on our behalf. The anticipated cost of Morrow’s services is estimated to be approximately $50,000 plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representation not contained in this Proxy Statement and, if given or made, you should not rely on that information or representation as having been authorized by us. The information contained in this Proxy Statement is accurate only as of the date of this Proxy Statement.
Cherry Hill Contact Information
The mailing address of our principal executive office is 1451 Route 34, Suite 303, Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727, and our main telephone number is (877) 870-7005. We maintain an Internet website at www.chmireit.com. Information at or connected to our website is not and should not be considered part of this Proxy Statement.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING
On what am I voting?
You are being asked to vote on the following proposals:
Proposal No. 1: Election to the Board of the four director nominees named in this Proxy Statement, to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;
Proposal No. 2: Approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Say-on-Pay Proposal”); and
Proposal No. 3: Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.
Proposal No. 4: Approval of a proposed amendment to the Company’s charter to remove the Board’s exclusive power to amend the Company’s bylaws and make new bylaws (the “Proposed Charter Amendment”).
Who can vote?
Holders of our common stock as of the close of business on the record date, April 8, 2024, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. Each share of our common stock has one vote.
Why are you holding a virtual Annual Meeting?
The Board believes that a virtual meeting format will provide the opportunity for full and equal participation by all stockholders, from any location around the world. A virtual meeting also substantially reduces the costs associated with hosting an in-person meeting. We have considered concerns raised by investor advisory groups and other shareholder rights advocates that virtual meetings may diminish shareholder voice or reduce accountability. Accordingly, we have designed our virtual format to enhance, rather than constrain, stockholder access, participation and communication. For example, the virtual format allows stockholders to communicate with us during the Annual Meeting so they can ask questions of the Board or management. During the live Q&A session of the Annual Meeting, we may answer questions asked by virtual meeting attendees if such questions are relevant to the business of the Annual Meeting, as time permits.
How can I attend the Annual Meeting?
The Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting of stockholders, which means that you may attend the Annual Meeting online at meetnow.global/MKDMG4S. There will be no physical location for stockholder to attend the Annual Meeting.
You are entitled to attend, vote and submit questions prior to and during the Annual Meeting if you were a stockholder of record as of the close of business on April 8, 2024, the record date, or if you hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting.
Guests may join the Annual Meeting in a listen-only mode.
The Annual Meeting will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on June 13, 2024. We encourage you to access the meeting prior to the start time to leave ample time to log into the meeting and test your computer audio system. You should ensure that you have a strong Internet connection to support your virtual attendance at the Annual Meeting.
Do I need to register to attend the Annual Meeting?
Stockholders of Record. If you are a stockholder of record—that is, you hold your shares through our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (“Computershare”)—then you do not need to register to attend the Annual Meeting.
To attend the meeting, visit the Annual Meeting website at meetnow.global/MKDMG4S to log-in on the day of the meeting and enter your control number located on your proxy card.
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Beneficial Owners. If your shares are held in “street name” (i.e., you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker), then you must register in advance to attend the Annual Meeting.
If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you must register in advance to participate in the Annual Meeting. To register to attend the Annual Meeting, you must submit proof of your proxy power (such as a legal proxy) reflecting your Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation common stock holdings, along with your name and email address to Computershare. Requests for registration should be directed to Computershare by email to legalproxy@computershare.com (forwarding the email from your broker, or attaching an image of your legal proxy) or by mail to Computershare, Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation Legal Proxy, P.O. Box 43001, Providence, RI 02940-3001. Requests for registration must be labeled as “Legal Proxy” and be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 12, 2024. You will receive confirmation of your registration by email (or by mail, if no email address is provided) after Computershare receives your registration materials.
To attend the meeting, visit the Annual Meeting website at meetnow.global/MKDMG4S to log in on the day of the meeting and enter the control number provided in the confirmation sent by Computershare.
What if I have trouble accessing the Annual Meeting?
If you have difficulties logging into the Annual Meeting, you can use the technical resources available on the log-in page at meetnow.global/MKDMG4S, which will be available beginning at 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time on June 13, 2024 or contact 1-888-724-2416 for further assistance.
How do I vote at the Annual Meeting?
Stockholders of record can vote during the Annual Meeting or by proxy. There are three ways for stockholders of record to vote by proxy:
By Telephone – You can vote by telephone toll-free by following the instructions on the accompanying proxy card (you will need the control number on the accompanying proxy card);
By Internet – You can vote by Internet by following the instructions on the accompanying proxy card (you will need the control number on the accompanying proxy card); or
By Mail – You can vote by mail by completing, signing, dating and mailing the accompanying proxy card in the postage-prepaid envelope provided.
The telephone and Internet voting procedures are designed to confirm your identity, to allow you to give your voting instructions and to verify that your instructions have been properly recorded. If you wish to vote by telephone or Internet, please follow the instructions that are included on the accompanying proxy card.
If you mail us your properly completed and signed proxy card, or vote by telephone or Internet, your shares will be voted according to the choices that you specify.
If you submit a signed proxy without marking any choices, your proxy will be voted:
FOR the election of all director nominees named in this Proxy Statement;
FOR the approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation paid to our named executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2023;
FOR the ratification of the appointment of EY as our registered independent public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024; and
FOR the approval of the Proposed Charter Amendment.
We do not expect any other matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting. However, by giving your proxy, you appoint the persons named as proxies as your representatives at the Annual Meeting. If any matter requiring a stockholder vote is properly presented at the Annual Meeting and that matter is not described in our proxy materials, the proxy holders will vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment.
If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you will receive voting instructions from the holder of record of your shares and you must register in advance to attend the Annual Meeting.
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May I change or revoke my vote?
Yes. You may change your vote or revoke your proxy at any time prior to the Annual Meeting by:
notifying our Secretary in writing at 1451 Route 34, Suite 303, Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727, that you are revoking your proxy;
executing or authorizing, dating and delivering to us a new proxy that is dated after the proxy you wish to revoke; or
attending the Annual Meeting and voting online during the Annual Meeting.
If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you should contact the holder of record to change your vote.
Will my shares be voted if I do not provide my proxy?
It depends on whether you hold your shares in your own name or in street name. If you hold your shares directly in your own name, they will not be voted unless you provide a proxy or vote online during the Annual Meeting.
Brokerage firms generally have the authority to vote customers’ un-voted shares on certain “routine” matters. If your shares are held in street name by a brokerage firm, the brokerage firm can vote your shares for the ratification of the appointment of EY as our registered independent public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024 (Proposal No. 3) if you do not timely provide your voting instructions, because this matter is considered “routine” under the applicable rules. The other items (Proposals Nos. 1, 2 and 4) are considered “non-routine,” and the brokerage firm cannot vote your shares without your specific voting instruction.
What constitutes a quorum?
As of the record date, a total of 30,019,969 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. In order to conduct the Annual Meeting, a majority of the shares entitled to vote must be in attendance online at the Annual Meeting or represented by proxy. This is referred to as a “quorum.” If you submit a properly executed proxy card or vote by telephone or on the Internet, you will be considered part of the quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of determining a quorum. If a quorum is not present, the Annual Meeting may be adjourned or postponed from time to time until a quorum is obtained, to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement during the Annual Meeting. A broker non-vote occurs when a nominee who holds shares in street name has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner of the shares and either chooses not to vote those shares on a routine matter or is not permitted to vote those shares on a non-routine matter.
What vote is needed to approve the matters submitted?
Election of Directors (Proposal No. 1). Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting. “Plurality” means that the nominees receiving the largest number of votes cast are elected as directors up to the maximum number of directors to be chosen at the Annual Meeting. For purposes of this vote, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote for this proposal.
Say-on-Pay (Proposal No. 2). The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the Say-on-Pay Proposal. For purposes of this vote, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote for this proposal.
Ratification of Appointment of EY (Proposal No. 3). The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting is required to approve this proposal. For purposes of this vote, abstentions will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote for this proposal. Because this matter is considered “routine” under applicable rules, we do not expect there to be any broker non-votes on this proposal.
Approval of the Proposed Charter Amendment (Proposal No. 4). The affirmative vote of a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast at the Annual Meeting is required to approve this proposal. For purposes of this vote, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as votes against the proposal, although they will be considered present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.
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PROPOSAL NO. 1:
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board has fixed the number of directors at four. The four persons named below (each, a “director nominee”) currently serve on the Board and have been recommended by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and nominated by the Board to serve on the Board until our 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified.
The Board has no reason to believe that any of the director nominees will be unable, or will decline, to serve if elected. If any director nominee is unable to stand for election, the persons appointed to vote your proxy may vote at the Annual Meeting for another candidate proposed by the Board, or the Board may choose to reduce the size of the Board, provided that we continue to have a majority of independent directors following any such reduction. In addition, the Board has determined that all of the director nominees, other than Mr. Lown, are independent under applicable rules of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”).
Director Nominees
The following table sets forth the name, position with our Company and age at the Annual Meeting of each director nominee:
Name
Position
Age
Jeffrey B. Lown II
President and these documents are available in print to any stockholder upon request by writing to 1451 Route 34, Suite 303, Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727, Attention: Secretary. Information at or connected to our website is not and should not be considered a part of this Proxy Statement.Chief Executive Officer
Committees of our Board60
Our Board has established three standing committees:Robert C. Mercer, Jr.
the Audit Committee;Independent Director
the Compensation Committee; and76
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.Joseph P. Murin
The members of these standing committees are appointed by and serve at the discretionIndependent Director
74
Sharon L. Cook
Independent Director
64
We believe that all of the director nominees are intelligent, experienced and proactive with respect to management and risk oversight, and that they exercise good judgment. The biographical descriptions below set forth certain information with respect to each director nominee, including the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each director nominee that led us to conclude that such person should serve as a director.
Jeffrey B. Lown II has served as our President and as a director since the completion of our initial public offering in October 2013 and as our Chief Executive Officer since March 2017. Mr. Lown also served as our Chief Investment Officer through March 2016, at which time Julian Evans was appointed as Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Lown has over 25 years of combined experience in the financial services industry and the residential mortgage markets. Mr. Lown has been employed by Freedom Mortgage Corporation (“Freedom Mortgage”) since April 2012 and served as Executive Vice President in charge of strategic funding projects and capital markets until July 2016, at which time he began to focus his full-time efforts on us and the management of our business. Prior to joining Freedom Mortgage, Mr. Lown served as a Portfolio Manager at Avenue Capital Group from April 2011 to January 2012. Prior to co-founding and serving as a principal of Green Lake Investment Partners, LLC in the fall of 2010, Mr. Lown spent 11 months at New Oak Capital LLC as head of the residential mortgage loan business and as a member of the bank advisory group. Prior to joining New Oak Capital, Mr. Lown was a fellow at the Office of Thrift Supervision (the “OTS”), from March 2008 through September 2009. At the OTS, he served as an advisor to the Senior Deputy Director’s office and focused on residential mortgage loan origination and residential asset valuation and RMBS. Noteworthy assignments included participating in the creation of the Obama administration’s “Making Home Affordable” modification program, the review of TARP Capital Purchase Program applications for OTS thrifts and working with the Acting Deputy Director of Examinations, Supervision, and Consumer Protection and regional staff on troubled institutions.
Before OTS, from April 2002 to March 2008, Mr. Lown worked at UBS Securities LLC in mortgage trading. While at UBS Securities, Mr. Lown managed an internal mortgage origination platform specializing in Alt-A mortgage loans, overseeing all units within the organization, including sales, capital markets and operations. Mr. Lown began his career at Salomon Brothers (now Citigroup) in 1991, where he spent 11 years working for the mortgage trading desk. The last six years at Citigroup were in the Mortgage Finance Group where Mr. Lown held several positions both in investment banking and mortgage finance roles. While serving in these positions, he developed strong credit, contract finance and securitization skills.
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As a consequence of Mr. Lown’s more than 25 years’ experience in the residential mortgage markets, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, believes that he is well qualified to provide valuable advice in many important areas and that he should serve as a director.
Robert C. Mercer, Jr. has served as a director, chairperson of the Audit Committee and member of the Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee since March 15, 2017. Mr. Mercer has over 40 years of management and executive experience in generating and servicing consumer loans and mortgages. From July 2009 to March 2017, Mr. Mercer served as a Senior Examiner/Subject Matter Expert —Credit Risk, Operations and Counterparty Management at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) in Washington, D.C. At FHFA, Mr. Mercer monitored Freddie Mac’s seller/servicer and mortgage insurance counterparty risk analysis focusing on concentration of risk, regulatory risk and servicing transfer approvals. He also monitored Freddie Mac’s credit loss forecasting and loan loss reserve adequacy for its single family and multifamily loan portfolios.
Prior to his work at FHFA, Mr. Mercer’s experience included managing problem portfolio workouts, managing due diligence processes involving mergers and acquisitions, purchasing mortgage portfolios and developing or enhancing profit and risk models to improve portfolio predictability and profitability. In addition to his operational experience, he also has an extensive credit risk background, having been Chief Credit Officer of Citicorp National Services. Mr. Mercer has been involved in all aspects of credit risk management, including the development of proprietary score cards.
As President of American Equity Mortgage, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Mercer was responsible for expanding the retail branch network and improving operational efficiencies. Mr. Mercer has held senior executive and management positions in consumer lending at a series of financial institutions that ultimately became part of National City Bank, including Equibank, Integra Bank and Altegra Credit Company. Prior to that, Mr. Mercer held positions at Citicorp and Valley National Bank in Phoenix, Arizona after beginning his career spending thirteen-years at Ford Motor Credit Company.
Mr. Mercer brings to the Board over 40 years of experience in the consumer lending and mortgage industry sectors. Due to the depth and extent of his financial and credit risk management experience, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, believes that he should serve as a director.
Joseph Murin has served as a director, chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and member of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee since the completion of our initial public offering in October 2013. Since September 2009, Mr. Murin has served as the Chairman of The Collingwood Group LLC, a Washington, D.C.-based strategic investment and advisory firm serving the financial services industry that he cofounded in 2009. Since September 2012, Mr. Murin has served as President of New Day Financial LLC, a mortgage lender that provides homeowners with FHA, VA and reverse mortgage loans, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Chrysalis Holdings, LLC, a private investment firm focused on building and growing successful businesses that provide home financing, data analytics and technology solutions in the mortgage banking and financial services industries. From October 2001 to October 2007, Mr. Murin served, and since December 2009, he has served, as a director of the Point Park University. From July 2011 to August 2012, Mr. Murin served as the Chief Executive Officer of National Real Estate Information Services, a portfolio company owned by funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group, LLC.
President George W. Bush nominated Mr. Murin in October 2007 to serve as President of Ginnie Mae, a position which he held from July 2008 to August 2009. He also served as a consultant to the White House until he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate from January 2008 until May 2008. Prior to his nomination to serve as President of Ginnie Mae, Mr. Murin was with HUD for two years, to which he brought more than 40 years of diverse experience in the financial services, mortgage and banking industries. This experience includes having served as the Chief Executive Officer of a number of financial organizations such as Century Mortgage Co. from September 1986 to January 1989, Lender’s Service Inc. from May 1991 to December 2001, and Mortgage Settlement Network Innovations from September 2004 to August 2007. Mr. Murin served as a director for iGATE Corporation (NASDAQ: IGTE) from August 2009 to April 2013. Mr. Murin holds a bachelor’s degree in business from National Louis University.
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As a consequence of Mr. Murin’s more than 40 years’ experience in the financial services, mortgage and banking industries, including his service as President of Ginnie Mae, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, believes that he is well qualified to provide valuable advice to the Board in many important areas and that he should serve as a director.
Sharon Lee Cook has served as a director, chairperson of the Compensation Committee and member of the Audit Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee since March 8, 2023 and is independent in accordance with applicable NYSE and SEC rules. Since March 2022, Ms. Cook has served as the president of OLE Three Consulting, Inc., a management organization advisory firm that she founded. Ms. Cook has also served as a certified private arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority since June 2019. From February 2020 to January 2021, Ms. Cook served as a part-time administrative assistant at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and during the period from September 2017 through February 2020, Ms. Cook was not employed and was dedicating her time to various personal matters. Ms. Cook has more than 30 years of broad experience in fixed income capital markets and financial services regulation, and her background includes serving as a business consultant for the regulated trading platform FTX US Derivatives from February 2022 to June 2022, serving as a managing director at securities firm Incapital LLC between January 2017 and September 2017, serving as a managing director at investment banking firm D.A. Davidson & Co. from December 2012 to May 2016, serving as a managing director at Sterne, Agee & Leach Inc. from September 2009 to November 2012 and serving as a senior economic and policy advisor to the deputy director of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Thrift Supervision from May 2007 to September 2009 where she participated in the resolution of failing banks and the development of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) and the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).
Earlier in her career, Ms. Cook spent 12 years as a managing director at investment management firm Legg Mason Wood Walker Inc. and was the deputy assistant director at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for five years. Ms. Cook is a member of the board of directors of the Prevent Cancer Foundation, where she serves on the Finance Committee, and she is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors. Ms. Cook is a graduate of The George Washington University.
Based on Ms. Cook’s over 30 years of experience in fixed income capital markets and financial services regulation, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, believes that she should serve as a director.
The Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the election of each director nominee named above.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Board believes that the combination of its current composition, leadership structure and the intelligent, experienced and diverse perspectives of the directors provides the proper independent and expert oversight of our company’s business, strategy and management. Some of the governance and leadership highlights include the following:
annual election of each director for a one-year term;
each stockholder is entitled to one vote per share;
a strong independent leadership structure with a lead independent director;
diversified board composition with more than 90 years of collective experience in mortgage finance;
no over-boarded directors;
board committees consist solely of independent directors;
75% of the board is independent; and
regular, annual performance evaluations of the directors.
The Board of Directors
Our business is managed by Cherry Hill Mortgage Management, LLC (the “Manager”), subject to the oversight and direction of the Board. Our Manager is an SEC-registered investment adviser and is responsible for administering our business activities and day-to-day operations. The directors are informed about our business at meetings of the Board and its committees and through supplemental reports and communications.
There were four regular meetings of the Board in 2023 and one special meeting. Each director attended all of the meetings of the Board. Each independent director also attended all committee meetings for the committees on which the director served in 2023. Although our company does not have a policy regarding board members’ attendance at the Annual Meeting, all of our directors participated in the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders. In accordance with NYSE requirements and our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the independent directors of the Board regularly meet in executive session without management present. Generally, these executive sessions follow a meeting of the Board or of the Audit Committee. If the executive session follows a meeting of the Audit Committee, the chairperson of the Audit Committee will preside over the executive session. If the executive session follows a meeting of the Board, the lead independent director will preside over the executive session. In 2023, the independent directors of the Board met in executive session nine times without management present.
The Board has established three standing committees that are comprised solely of independent directors, the principal functions of which are briefly described below. Matters put to a vote at any one of our three committees must be approved by a majority of the directors on the committee who are present at a meeting at which there is a quorum or by unanimous written consent of the directors on that committee.
Lead Independent Director
Mr. Murin, the chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, serves as the lead independent director. The lead independent director generally is the point of contact for persons desiring to communicate directly with the independent directors. All interested parties may do so by using the IR Contact tab under the Investor Relations section on our website, which is www.chmireit.com, and leaving a message.
Director Independence
The Board has determined, after taking into account all facts and circumstances, that there are no material transactions, relationships or arrangements between us and Mr. Mercer, Mr. Murin or Ms. Cook requiring disclosure under applicable SEC rules and regulations or otherwise and that each of them is independent in accordance with applicable NYSE rules.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, which provide the framework for our governance and represent the Board’s current views with respect to selected corporate governance issues considered to be of significance to our stockholders.
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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
The Board has established a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our officers, directors and employees when such individuals are acting for or on our behalf. Any waiver of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may be made only by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and will be promptly disclosed to stockholders in accordance with applicable SEC and NYSE rules.
Anti-Hedging Policy
The Board has adopted a policy prohibiting all of our directors, officers, employees, if any, and certain “related persons” (as defined in the policy) of such persons from engaging in hedging or monetization transactions and other speculative transactions involving our securities, including our common stock. Under the policy, a covered person may not, directly or indirectly, engage in any kind of hedging or monetization transaction against future declines in the market value of our securities that could reduce or limit such person’s economic risk with respect to holdings or ownership of or interest in our securities. Pursuant to the policy, a “short sale,” or sale of securities that the seller does not own at the time of sale or, if owned, that will not be delivered within 20 days of the sale, is an example of a prohibited hedging transaction. Prohibited transactions under the policy also include the purchase by a covered person of financial instruments, including, without limitation, prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, puts, calls, exchange funds, or other derivative securities that are designed to hedge or offset a decrease in market value of our securities. The policy does not restrict holding, exercising or settling awards such as options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred stock units, LTIP Units, or other derivative securities granted under our equity incentive plans. Persons who violate our anti-hedging policy may be subject to disciplinary action. Such disciplinary action may include, but is not limited to, termination of employment and/or restrictions on future participation in our equity incentive plans.
Bribery and Kickbacks
Bribery is illegal and subject to criminal penalties in the U.S. and many other foreign countries. Bribery is forbidden under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other laws, rules and regulations. Bribery, kickbacks or other improper payments of any kind have no place in our company’s business and are strictly prohibited. In accordance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, our directors, officers and employees, if any, and employees of our Manager and its affiliates may not give bribes, kickbacks or offer anything of value to any person, organization or government official in order to obtain a particular result for us. All decisions made on our behalf, whether with respect to investing in assets or purchasing goods or services, must be made on the basis of appropriate investment or business criteria and must be legal and reasonable in relation to customary commercial practice. Similarly, our directors, officers and employees, if any, and employees of our Manager and its affiliates are prohibited from accepting or receiving a bribe, kickback or anything of value from any party in exchange for or consideration of the award of any of our business. Gifts and entertainment could constitute an illegal bribe or kickback under certain circumstances. Persons subject to our Code of Conduct and Business Ethics are instructed that they should never receive a payment or anything of value in exchange for a decision involving our business. We recognize exceptions for token gifts, which are not excessive in value or are consistent with customary business practices, and customary and appropriate business entertainment when a clear business purpose is involved. We are committed to the principles expressed in our Code of Business Conduct and will provide annual training to all of our personnel to address bribery, kickbacks and corruption.
Political Activity
In accordance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, we do not make contributions or payments that could be considered a contribution to political parties or candidates or to intermediary organizations such as political action committees. However, persons subject to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, including our directors and officers, are free to exercise their right to make personal political contributions within legal limits, except to the extent these contributions are otherwise prohibited or restricted by our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or by other policies. Persons subject to our Code of Business and Ethics are instructed not make any contribution in a way that might appear to be an endorsement or contribution by us and such persons are expected to be certain that they understand, and are in compliance with, all applicable laws, rules and regulations before making any political contribution. We do not reimburse our directors, officers or employees, if any, or any employees of our Manager or any of its affiliates for political contributions in any way.
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Availability of Corporate Governance and ESG Materials
Stockholders may view our corporate governance and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) materials, including the charters of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics our 2023 ESG Report and our Human Rights Policy, on our website at www.chmireit.com under the section “Investors—Corporate Governance—Highlights,” and these documents are available in print to any stockholder upon request by writing to 1451 Route 34, Suite 303, Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727, Attention: Secretary. Information at or connected to our website is not and should not be considered a part of this Proxy Statement.
Committees of the Board
The Board has established three standing committees:
the Audit Committee;
the Compensation Committee; and
the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
The members of these standing committees are appointed by and serve at the discretion of the Board.
Audit Committee
The current members of ourthe Audit Committee are Mr. Mercer (Chairman)(chairperson), Mr. Murin and Ms. Lowrie.Cook. Each of these members has been determined to be “independent” within the meaning of the applicable standards of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). In addition, each of these members meets the financial literacy requirements for audit committee membership under
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the NYSE’s rules and the rules and regulations of the SEC. OurThe Board has determined that each of Mr. Mercer and Mr. Murin is an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K. No member of ourthe Audit Committee serves on the audit committee of more than three public companies.
OurThe Audit Committee held seveneight meetings in 2021.2023. The primary purpose of ourthe Audit Committee is to assist ourthe Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to: (i) the integrity of our financial statements and financial reporting process, our systems of internal accounting and financial controls and other financial information we provide; (ii) the performance of the internal audit services function; (iii) the annual independent audit of our financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, the engagement of the independent auditors and the evaluation of the independent auditors’ qualifications, independence and performance; (iv) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, including our disclosure controls and procedures; and (v) the evaluation of risk assessment and risk management policies.
Compensation Committee
The members of ourthe Compensation Committee are Ms. Lowrie (Chairman)Cook (chairperson), Mr. Mercer and Mr. Murin. OurThe Board has determined that each member of ourthe Compensation Committee is “independent” within the meaning of the applicable standards of the NYSE for members of a compensation committee. Each member of ourthe Compensation Committee qualifies as a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
OurThe Compensation Committee held foursix meetings in 2021.2023. The primary purpose of ourthe Compensation Committee is to assist ourthe Board in discharging its responsibilities relating to the management agreement with our Manager and the compensation of our Manager, directors and executive officers and administration of our compensation plans, policies and programs, including but not limited to our 20132023 Equity Incentive Plan (our “2013“2023 Plan”). OurThe Compensation Committee has overall responsibility for evaluating and recommending changes to our compensation plans, policies and programs and approving and recommending to ourthe Board for its approval awards under, and amendments to, our 20132023 Plan. OurThe Compensation Committee may form and delegate authority to subcommittees comprised solely of independent directors or its chair when appropriate.
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The members of ourthe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Mr. Murin (Chairman)(chairperson), Mr. Mercer and Ms. Lowrie.Cook. By virtue of his position of chairmanchairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Mr. Murin also serves as the lead independent director. OurThe Board has determined that each member of ourthe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is “independent” within the meaning of the applicable standards of the NYSE.
OurThe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held four meetings in 2021.2023. The primary purpose of ourthe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is to assist ourthe Board by: (i) identifying individuals qualified to become members of ourthe Board, consistent with any guidelines and criteria approved by ourthe Board; (ii) considering and recommending director nominees for ourthe Board to select in connection with each annual meeting of stockholders; (iii) considering and recommending nominees for election to fill any vacancies on ourthe Board and to address related matters; (iv) developing and recommending to ourthe Board corporate governance guidelines applicable to us; (v) overseeing an annual evaluation of ourthe Board’s and management’s performance; and (vi) providing counsel to ourthe Board with respect to the organization, function and composition of ourthe Board and its committees. Ourcommittees; and (vii) overseeing corporate actions and disclosure, as is determined to be necessary and advisable, relating to material environmental, social and governance matters that may impact long-term performance and risk management strategies in anticipation of changing investor demands and regulatory requirements. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is also in charge of reviewing and, where appropriate, approving transactions between us and Freedom Mortgage or its affiliates.
Board Leadership Structure
OurThe Board has not established a fixed policy regarding the separation of the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of ourthe Board. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, ourthe Board has not named a director to act as Chairman of ourthe Board.
Risk Management Oversight
Risk management begins with the Board, through review and oversight of the Company’s risk management framework, and continues with executive management, through ongoing formulation of risk management practices and related execution. Management has implemented various risk management procedures regarding portfolio management, counterparty exposure and financial position that involve close consultation with individuals responsible for those areas. OurThe Board exercises its oversight of risk primarily through the Audit Committee with support from the other committees of the Board. The Board uses its standing committees to monitor and address areas of risk within the scope of each
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committee’s expertise and as required by the charter of each committee. For example, our
The Audit Committee overseesassists the Board in overseeing our enterprise risk management program, which includes, among other items, non-investment related risks such as strategic risk, operational risk, reputational risk, cybersecurity risk and climate-related risks affecting our company. In conducting this oversight, the Audit Committee reviews and discusses with management, our Manager’s risk and control personnel, EY (our independent registered public accounting firm) and RSM US LLP (“RSM”) (our internal auditing firm) our policies and practices with respect to risk assessment and risk management for all non-investment risks identified by our Manager. The Audit Committee also specifically reviews and discusses with management, our Manager’s risk and control personnel, EY and RSM the risks related to financial statements, accountingreporting and auditing functionscontrols, including, among other things, the risks from cybersecurity risks, on at least a quarterly basis. The Audit Committee also discusses with management our exposure to risks related to climate change and certain conflictshow management seeks to mitigate climate-related risk.
The Compensation Committee assists the Board in overseeing risk related to the Company’s compensation policies and practices, primarily by reviewing and discussing with management the extent to which our compensation policies and practices create incentives for excessive risk taking by management.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assists the Board in overseeing corporate governance and sustainability-related risks and reviews and discusses with management the extent to which our ESG policies and practices create or mitigate risks for our company.
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We believe that our leadership structure promotes effective Board oversight of interest. Our Board also receives updates directly from management.risk management as the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are each comprised solely of independent directors. Each of the committees actively monitors our policies and practices with respect to risk assessment and risk management, and the independent directors are provided with the information necessary to evaluate significant risks and strategies for addressing these risks. In this regard, Mr. Lown, due to his service as a director of our company and as our President and Chief Executive Officer, and President, plays a particularly important role by communicating with our independent directors and keeping them updated on the important aspects of our operations. Although each committee is responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, our entire Board is regularly informed through committee reports about such risks as well as through regular reports directly from our executive officers responsible for management of particular risks to the Company.
Criteria and Procedures for Selection of Director Nominees
Although ourthe Board retains ultimate responsibility for nominating individuals for election as directors, ourthe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee conducts the initial screening and evaluation process. As provided in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, director nominees, including those directors eligible to stand for re-election, are selected based on, among other things, the following factors:
requirements of applicable laws and NYSE listing standards, including independence;
the absence of material relationships with us;
strength of character;
diversity;
age;
skills; and
experience.
In conducting the screening and evaluation of potential director nominees, ourthe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers candidates recommended by directors and our management, as well as recommendations from our stockholders. Subject to the discretion of ourthe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, we anticipate that any director candidates submitted to us by our stockholders will be evaluated by ourthe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee on the same basis as any other director candidate.
OurThe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates each individual in the context of ourthe Board as a whole, with the objective of recommending a group of directors that can best contribute to the success of the business and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment, using its diversity of experience. In determining whether to recommend a director for re-election, the Committee also considers the director’s past attendance at meetings and participation in and contributions to the activities of ourthe Board.
We do not have a formal policy about diversity of Board membership, but ourthe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider a broad range of factors when nominating individuals for election as directors, including differences of viewpoint, professional experience, education, skill, other personal qualities and attributes, race, gender and national origin. OurThe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee neither includes nor excludes any candidate from consideration solely based on the candidate’s diversity traits.
OurThe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider appropriate nominees for directors whose names are submitted in writing by a stockholder. See “Other Information—Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for the 20232024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.”Stockholders”.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
OurThe Compensation Committee consists of Ms. Lowrie (Chairman)Cook (chairperson), Mr. Mercer and Mr. Murin. None of the members of ourthe Compensation Committee are or have been an employee or officer of our company, our Manager or Freedom Mortgage, and none of such members has any relationship requiring disclosure by our company under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act. None of our executive officers currently serves, or during the past fiscal year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of another entity that has one or more executive officers serving on ourthe Board or Compensation Committee.
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Communication with Ourthe Board
Stockholders and other interested parties who wish to communicate with our lead independent director, the Board or our Boardany of its committees may do so by writing to the Secretary of Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation, 1451 Route 34, Suite 303, Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727. The independent directors have directed our Secretary to
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act as their agent in processing any written communications received. All communications that relate to matters within the scope of the responsibilities of ourthe Board and its standing committees will be forwarded to the lead independent director. Communications that relate to matters that are within the scope of the responsibilities of one of ourthe Board’s standing committees also will be forwarded to the chairmanchairperson of the appropriate committee. Communications that relate to ordinary business matters that are not within the scope of the responsibilities of ourthe Board will be sent to the appropriate member of management.
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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Stockholder Engagement
OurThe Board and management value the opportunity to engage with our stockholders so as to better understand and focus on the priorities that matter most to them, and to foster consistent and constructive dialogue. The feedback and insight from these meetings, in addition to emerging best practices, policies at other companies and other market standards, arewill be considered and evaluated by our Boardmanagement and management to enhancethe Board. We believe engaging with stockholders will assist us in enhancing the evolution of our disclosures, and practices.
We discussimprove our investment portfolio strategy, financial and operating performance, corporate governance executiveprofile and our compensation policies and various other matters integralpractices and implement ESG initiatives that matter most to stockholders. In 2023, we engaged an independent, outside ESG and corporate governance advisor to assist with these initiatives. Our management meets regularly with our ESG and corporate governance advisor to evaluate best public company corporate governance practices and policies and ESG initiatives. Based on the advice of our ESG and corporate governance advisor, management recommends to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee the implementation of policies, practices and initiatives focused on corporate social responsibility and sustainability that we believe matter most to our business and our company, including relevant environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues such as diversity and inclusion.stockholders.
Environmental Responsibility
Our BoardESG initiatives are overseen by our Nominating and managementCorporate Governance Committee. In April 2023 we published our first Environmental, Social and Governance Report (the “2023 ESG Report”). The 2023 ESG Report is available on our website at www.chmireit.com under the section “Investors—Corporate Governance—Highlights”. Information at or connected to our website is not and should not be considered a part of this Proxy Statement.
The 2023 ESG Report outlines our progress towards our ESG goals and commitments across three key ESG areas:
environmental responsibility and sustainability;
social responsibility; and
corporate governance.
Our environmental strategy is based on simplicity and transparency. Specifically, we endeavor to minimize our environmental impact by reducing waste that is generated by our Company and sent to landfills, purchasing, to the extent practicable, environmentally responsible products, and reducing internal paper usage. We believe that the Company’s corporate footprint and business operations have engageda relatively modest impact on the environment. Nevertheless, we believe in promoting a sustainable environment by using resources as efficiently and responsibly as practicable. Our commitment to these principles is reflected in our daily activities in a variety of ways:
to reduce waste and promote a cleaner environment, we recycle paper, glass, plastic and aluminum cans, electronic equipment, batteries and ink cartridges, and we emphasize electronic communications, record storage e-statements and invoices to reduce our office paper usage;
to reduce our carbon footprint, we utilize video conferencing as an outside ESG advisoralternative to business travel; and is
to reduce energy usage, we use Energy Star ® certified products, printers and televisions.
Although we are unable to predict the rate at which climate change will progress, we recognize that the physical effects of climate change could have a material adverse effect on our operations. To the extent that climate change impacts changes in weather patterns, assets in which we hold a direct or indirect interest could experience severe weather, including hurricanes, severe winter storms, wildfires and flooding due to increases in storm intensity and rising sea levels, among other effects that could impact house prices and housing-related costs and/or disrupt borrowers’ ability to pay their mortgage. Moreover, long term climate change could trigger extreme weather conditions that result in macroeconomic and demographic shifts. Over time, these conditions could result in repricing of the process of evaluating the feedbackassets that we hold. There can be no assurance that climate change and insights from these meetings, in addition to emerging best practices, policies at other companies and market standards.severe weather will not have a material adverse effect on our financial performance.
Focus onOn Our EmployeesPersonnel
As an externally managed REIT, our corporate responsibility focus is on ourthe team of dedicated professionals.professionals provided to us by our Manager through its relationship with Freedom Mortgage. Through our “we’re all in” ethos, we are committed to building an inclusive, encouraging and respectful workplace that allows us to
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seamlessly meet our fiduciary commitments to our stockholders and successfully grow our company. We are committed to our team members’ growth and development, and instill a sense of ownership in our company by providing long-term equity incentives to all our employees. We rely on our Manager to provide the necessary personnel to conduct our investment operations that meet the standards of government-sponsored enterprises. In addition, medical and wellness benefits are made available to all of our team members.
Diversity and Inclusion; Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy
As reflected in our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and our 2023 ESG Report, diversity and inclusion is integrated in everything we do. Currently, our team is comprised of 12 individuals, with women representing one-third of the overall team and key members of our team also being racially and ethnically diverse. We believe the diversity of the Company’s personnel is a tremendous asset. We are firmly committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and will not tolerate any illegal discrimination or harassment or any kind. Examples include derogatory comments based on racial or ethnic characteristics and unwelcome sexual advances.
We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, alienage or citizenship status, age, disability, marital or partnership status, military status, predisposing genetic characteristics, status as a victim of domestic violence, sex offense or stalking or any other class or status protected by law in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. All persons must be treated with dignity and respect.
We believe our management team’s intentional dedication to engage, train and motivate the personnel provided to us and to promote a diverse and inclusive culture has allowed us to retain the talent necessary to operate our company.
Our COVID-19 ResponseHuman Rights Policy
The global pandemic hasAs a responsible corporate citizen, we seek to promote and continuesprotect human rights in our business. As reflected in our Human Rights Policy, which is available on our website at www.chmireit.com under the section “Investors—Corporate Governance—Highlights” (information on or connected to presentour website is not and should not be considered a part of this Proxy Statement), we strive to conduct our operations in accordance with the business community with unprecedented challenges, including negative impactsUnited Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We recognize the mortgage industry. Prior to March 2020, our team was already working with a cloud-based environment with established modesimportance of communicationsrespecting, protecting and reliable connections. Bypromoting human rights and fundamental freedoms such as those covered by the onset ofUnited Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
Management is responsible for the stay-at-home orders, we seamlessly transitioned the entiretyongoing maintenance and day-to-day oversight of our teamHuman Rights Policy to remote working. Withensure compliance. The Board will review our “we’re all in” attitude,compliance with the Human Rights Policy at least annually.
We recognize that our team members supported one anotherstakeholders value information about our efforts in this area. We are committed to meet the goalsongoing engagement on issues relating to human rights. We welcome input from our stakeholders on our ongoing commitment to human rights.
We will require our personnel to complete Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Workplace Harassment training upon hire, and annually thereafter, and to certify upon completing each training session that they have read, and that they understand our company, while providing support and assistance to one another.policies, including our Human Rights Policy.
Our Business Conduct and Ethical Investment Practices
We adhere to a stringent Code of Business Conduct which covers, among other topics, compliance with applicable laws, the avoidance of conflicts of interest, and a strict prohibition against insider trading, discrimination and harassment. All of our employees are also subject to the Manager’s separate Code of Ethics to ensure we’rewe are acting with integrity, transparency and accountability.
Our acquisition, investment and management portfolios are focused on mortgage servicing rights (MSRs), agency residential mortgage back securities (RMBS) and other residential mortgage assets that target the full
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spectrum of single-family residential homeowners from new to mature homeowners. The loans underlying our MSR portfolio are owned and/or securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and must conform to the lending standards of the government-sponsored enterprises. These standards include prohibitions against predatory
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lending practices, high-cost loans, prepayment penalties, as well as anti-discrimination and consumer protection compliance. We have limited information about the borrowers, such as their credit quality and location, and do not receive information about borrowers’ gender, race and/or ethnicity.
We conduct counterparty due diligence with a third-party that includes reviews of government audit reports and compliance with policies and procedures that address the following:
Equal Credit Opportunity Act/Regulation B;
Fair Credit Reporting Act;
Truth in Lending Act;
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act;
Flood Disaster Protection Act; and
Record Retention.
Environmental Responsibility
We believe that being a good environmental and social citizen is not just the right thing to do from a moral perspective but the right thing to do for long-term value creation. We are committed to minimizing the overall environmental impact of our operations and strive to use our resources efficiently. With two small offices each of which is about 2500 square feet, our business operations have a relatively modest environmental footprint. Notwithstanding our small environmental footprint, we engage in various green initiatives to further minimize our environmental impact:
office cleaning conducted with green products;
single-stream recycling as well as recycling containers in all common areas;
motion sensor control lighting in certain areas;
RoHS-compliant printers with ENERGY STAR® qualification to restrict the use of hazardous materials and promote energy efficiency; and
reusable kitchen supplies.
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
For 2021,2023, our independent directors received the following compensation:
Mr. Mercer and Mr. Murin were each independent director was paid a cash retainer of $70,000.$70,000 and Ms. Cook, who became a director in March 2023, was paid a prorated retainer of $39,667. The cash retainer was paid in quarterly installments in arrears and accrued at an annual rate of $70,000. For 2021: (a)
Mr. Mercer the chairperson of our Audit Committee, was paid an additional cash retainer of $10,000 while Ms. Lowrie,for serving as the chairperson of our Compensation Committee, and Mr. Murin, the chairperson of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, were eachAudit Committee.
Ms. Cook was paid an additional cash retainer in the prorated amount $2,833 (the additional cash retainer accrues at an annual rate of $5,000; (b) Ms. Lowrie$5,000) for serving as the chairperson of the Compensation Committee and Mr. Murin, as members of our Audit Committee, were each also paid an additional cash retainer of $2,500; and (c) $1,417 (the additional cash retainer accrues at an annual rate of $2,500) for serving as a member of the Audit Committee.
Mr. Murin our lead independent director, was paid an additional cash retainer of $10,000. $5,000 for serving as the chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, an additional cash retainer of $2,500 for serving as a member of the Audit Committee and an additional cash retainer of $10,000 for serving as our lead independent director.
In addition to the cash compensation described above, our independent directors also receive annual grants of common stock pursuant to our equity incentive plan. On June 29, 2023, we granted each of our independent directors 13,945 restricted shares of common stock pursuant to our 2023 Plan. These restricted shares become non-forfeitable on June 29, 2024.
Mr. Lown, our President and Chief Executive Officer, did not receive any cash or equity compensation from us for his service as a director.
On June 17, 2021, pursuant to our 2013 Plan, we granted each of our independent directors 6,738 restricted shares of common stock, which will become non-forfeitable on June 17, 2022.
No equity-based compensation was awarded to, earned by or paid to any of our directors in 2021 other than the restricted share awards described above and, with respect to Mr. Lown in his capacity as an executive officer, as described below under “Executive Compensation.”
We reimburse our independent directors for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as directors, including, without limitation, travel expenses in connection with their attendance at in-person board and committee meetings.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our future directors. The indemnification agreements provide these directors the maximum indemnification permitted under Maryland law. The agreements provide, among other things, for the advancement of expenses and indemnification for liabilities which such person may incur by reason of his or her status as a present or former director of our company in any action or proceeding arising out of the performance of such person’s services as a present or former director of our company.
The table below describes the compensation earned by our directors other than Mr. Lown for 2021.2023. Mr. Lown’s compensation is described below under “Executive Compensation”.
Name
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
Stock
Awards(1)
Total
Compensation
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
Stock
Awards(1)
Total
Compensation
Regina M. Lowrie
$77,500
$70,008
$147,508
Sharon L. Cook
$43,917
$70,004
$113,921
Robert C. Mercer, Jr.
$80,000
$70,008
$150,008
$80,000
$70,004
$150,004
Joseph P. Murin
$87,500
$70,008
$157,508
$87,500
$70,004
$157,504
(1)
Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of 6,73813,945 restricted shares of common stock awarded to each of our three independent directors on June 17, 2021, pursuant to our 20132023 Plan on June 29, 2023. Amounts have been calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 disregardingand disregard estimated forfeitures.
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Management Agreement
We are a party to a management agreement with our Manager pursuant to which our Manager provides for the day-to-day management of our operations. Our Manager is an SEC-registered investment adviser. The management agreement requires our Manager to manage our business and affairs in conformity with the policies and investment guidelines approved and monitored by ourthe Board. The current term of the management agreement expires on October 22, 20222024 and will be automatically renewed for one-year terms thereafter unless we elect or our Manager elects not to renew the management agreement or the management agreement is terminated by either us or our Manager. Under certain circumstances, our Manager is entitled to receive a termination fee from us in an amount equal to three times the average annual management fee amount earned by our Manager during the two four-quarter periods ending as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter prior to the effective date of termination or, in the case of non-renewal, the expiration of the term.
Our Manager, through its services agreement with Freedom Mortgage (in such capacity, the “Services Provider”), provides us with our officers and appropriate support personnel in order to deliver the management services called for under the management agreement. We reimburse our Manager for a portion of the salary and benefits paid to certain personnel provided to us, including our Chief Financial Officer (who also serves as our Treasurer and Secretary) based on agreed upon percentages. The amount of the salary and benefits reimbursed with respect to these officers is subject to the approval of our Compensation Committee, but our Compensation Committee does not determine the amount of cash compensation paid to any of our officers.
Under the management agreement, we pay our Manager an annual management fee. The management fee is payable quarterly in arrears in cash in the amount equal to 1.50% per annum of our stockholders’ equity, with stockholders’ equity being calculated, as of the end of any fiscal quarter, as (a) the sum of (1) the net proceeds from any issuances of our common stock or other equity securities issued by us or our operating partnership (without double counting) since our inception, plus (2) our and our operating partnership’s (without double counting) retained earnings calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), at the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter (without taking into account any non-cash equity compensation expense incurred in current or prior periods), less (b) any amount that we or our operating partnership have paid to repurchase shares of our common stock or other equity securities issued by us or our operating partnership since inception. For purposes of the management agreement, “stockholders’ equity” excludes (1) any unrealized gains, losses or other non-cash items that have impacted stockholders’ equity as reported in our financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, regardless of whether such items are included in other comprehensive income or loss, or in net income, and (2) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP, and certain non-cash items not otherwise described above in each case, after discussions between our Manager and our independent directors and approval by a majority of our independent directors.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, we incurred approximately $6.8 million in management fees payable to our Manager pursuant to the management agreement. In addition, we reimbursed our Manager for approximately $1.0 million of allocable expenses reimbursable by us under the management agreement, including the agreed upon portion of the salary and other benefits paid in 2021 to our Chief Financial Officer and our general counsel.
Our Manager is not entitled to receive any incentive fee under the management agreement, and no such incentive fee was paid to our Manager for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.2023.
Our Manager provides us with our executive officers and appropriate support personnel in order for our Manager to deliver the management services called for under the management agreement. Our Manager is responsible for all costs incident to the performance of its duties under the management agreement, including compensation and other related expenses of our executive officers and other personnel provided to us by our Manager. In some instances, our Manager is entitled to be reimbursed for the costs of the wages, salaries and benefits incurred by our Manager with respect to certain personnel provided to us. We reimburse our Manager for the costs of the salary paid to Michael Hutchby, our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary. We do not reimburse our Manager for the costs of the wages, salaries and benefits incurred by our Manager with respect to executive officers other than Mr. Hutchby or any other personnel provided to us through our Manager. The Compensation Committee approves the amount of the reimbursement relating to the costs of the salary paid to Mr. Hutchby each quarter.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, we incurred approximately $6.3 million in management fees payable to our Manager pursuant to the management agreement. In addition, we reimbursed our Manager for approximately $580,000 of allocable expenses reimbursable by us under the management agreement, including the costs of the salary paid in 2023 to Mr. Hutchby. The costs of the salary paid in 2023 to Mr. Hutchby and reimbursed by us is shown in the “Salary” column of the table appearing under the heading “Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table” in this Proxy Statement.
Our Manager’s sole member is the CHMM Blind Trust, a grantor trust established for the benefit of, but not controlled by, Mr. Middleman. Mr. Middleman is also the founder and sole voting stockholder ofcontrols Freedom Mortgage. Accordingly, allAll management fee compensation paid by us to our Manager pursuant to the management agreement accrues to the benefit of Mr. Middleman as the beneficiary under the CHMM Blind Trust.
Our Manager is a party to a services agreement with the Services Provider,Freedom Mortgage, pursuant to which the Services ProviderFreedom Mortgage provides to our Manager personnel, including our executive officers, and payroll and benefits
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administration services as needed by our Manager to enable our Manager to carry out its obligations and responsibilities under the management agreement. The management agreement between us and our Manager obligates our Manager to maintain the services agreement with the Services Provider.Freedom Mortgage. We are a named third-party beneficiary to the services agreement and, as a result, have, as a non-exclusive remedy, a direct right of action against the Services ProviderFreedom Mortgage in the event of any breach by our Manager of any of its duties, obligations or agreements under the management
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agreement that arise out of or result from any breach by the Services ProviderFreedom Mortgage of its obligations under the services agreement. The services agreement had an initial term that expired in October 2014, and it is subject to renewal for successive annual periods by our Manager and the Services Provider. In addition, the services agreement will terminate upon the termination or non-renewal of the management agreement.
Indemnification Agreements
For information regarding indemnification agreements that we have entered into with our directors and executive officers, please see “Director Compensation.”Compensation”.
Related Party Transaction Policies
OurThe Board has adopted a policy regarding the approval of any “related person transaction,”transaction”, which is any transaction or series of transactions in which we or any of our subsidiaries is or are to be a participant, where the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and a “related person” (as defined under SEC rules) has a direct or indirect material interest. Under the policy, a related person would need to promptly disclose to our Secretary any related person transaction and all material facts about the transaction. Our Secretary would then assess and promptly communicate that information to ourthe Audit Committee. Based on its consideration of all of the relevant facts and circumstances, ourthe Audit Committee will decide whether or not to approve such transaction. If we were to become aware of an existing related person transaction that has not been pre-approved under this policy, the transaction would be referred to this committee, which would evaluate all options available, including ratification, revision or termination of such transaction. Our policy will require any director who may be interested in a related person transaction to recuse himself or herself from any consideration of such related person transaction.
Any transaction between our company and the Services ProviderFreedom Mortgage or its affiliates requires the approval of ourthe Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, regardless of the dollar amount of the transaction.
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Set forth below are the names, positions and ages of our executive officers as of the date of this Proxy Statement:
Name
Position
Age
Jeffrey B. Lown II
President and Chief Executive Officer
5860
Michael A. Hutchby
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
4446
Julian B. Evans
Chief Investment Officer
5254
Biographical information with respect to Mr. Lown is set forth above under “Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors.”Directors”. We have no executive officers other than the executive officers named above, allabove. Our executive officers are employees of whomFreedom Mortgage and provided to us by our Manager. Our executive officers are fully dedicated to our companyus and itsour business.
Michael Hutchby was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary in June 2019. Mr. Hutchby served as the Company’s Controller from October 2013 to June 2019. Prior to joining the Company in 2013, Mr. Hutchby was Vice President, Capital Markets at Freedom Mortgage specializing in mergers and acquisitions, corporate development and capital raising. From 2011 to 2012, Mr. Hutchby worked at Sterne, Agee & Leach, where he was an investment banking senior associate in the Financial Institutions Group. From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Hutchby was a Vice President, M&A and Strategic Advisory at Madison Place Partners, Inc., an asset management consultancy specializing in mortgage related risk and servicing products. Prior to that, Mr. Hutchby held various positions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Sungard Energy Systems. Mr. Hutchby has a B.A. in Economics from The Johns Hopkins University and an M.B.A. from the Stern School of Business at New York University.
Julian Evans has served as our Senior Trader and Portfolio Manager since our initial public offering in October 2013. In March 2016, Mr. Evans was appointed Chief Investment Officer. Mr. Evans has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry with more than 17 years trading mortgage backed securities. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Evans was a Director at Deutsche Asset Management where he was head of the MBS Sector Team and Senior Portfolio Manager responsible for a platform of $25 billion of mortgage-backed securities. Prior to that, Mr. Evans was a Vice President at Times Square Capital Management, Inc. (formerly known as Cigna Investment Management), where he was head trader for all mortgage-related products and assisted in the management of an $11 billion portfolio of structured products. Mr. Evans obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Trinity College. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan and is a certified financial analyst.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
We are externally managed byOur Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes our Manager. Each of our executive officers is supplied to us through our Manager. We rely completely on our Manager to provide us with investment advisory services. For 2021,compensation program, objectives and policies for our named executive officers (“NEOs”). For 2023, our NEOs were:
Mr. Lown, our President and Chief Executive Officer (our principal executive officer);
Mr. Hutchby, our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary (our principal financial and accounting officer); and
Mr. Evans, our Chief Investment OfficerOfficer.
We have no executive officers other than Messrs. Lown, Hutchby and Evans.our NEOs.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Our Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes our compensation program, objectives and policies for the executive officers named in this Proxy Statement.
Executive Compensation Overview
We are externally managed by our Manager pursuant to a management agreement between our Manager and us. Our named executive officersNEOs and other key professionalspersonnel who provide services to us are suppliedmade available to us through our Manager and its services agreement with the Services Provider,Freedom Mortgage, which directly pays the cash compensation and provides benefits for all ofto our personnel, including our named executive officers. NEOs.
As an externally managed company, we utilize a hybrid approach to the compensation program for our named executive officers.NEOs. Our Manager is obligated under the management agreement to pay or cause to be paid all cash compensation of our named executive officers.NEOs. Our Manager does not have its own formal compensation program. The levels of cash compensation for our named executive officers,NEOs, substantially all of which areis fixed annual base salary rather than variable,variable/incentive pay, are determined based on recommendations by Mr. Lown, as the Presidentan officer of our Manager, which are acknowledged and implemented by the Services Provider. OurFreedom Mortgage. The Compensation Committee does not determine the amountlevels of cash compensation paid to our named executive officers. We reimburse our Manager forNEOs other than the cash compensation paid by our Manager to Mr. Hutchby, our Chief Financial Officer.Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, which we reimburse.
In addition to the cash compensation that the Services ProviderFreedom Mortgage pays to our named executive officers,NEOs, our named executive officersNEOs are eligible to receive equity incentive compensation.compensation from us. Equity compensation that we award to our named executive officersNEOs from time to time is determined by ourthe Compensation Committee, which consists solely of independent directors, in accordance with our equity incentive plan. When we refer to our equity incentive plan, we mean our 2013 Plan.Equity Incentive Plan (“2013 Plan”) for periods prior to June 15, 2023 and our 2023 Plan, which replaced our 2013 Plan, for periods on and after June 15, 2023. As described in more detail in the following sections, we believe that the terms of the management agreement and the utilization of our 2013 Planequity incentive plan effectively align the interests of our managementNEOs with those of our stockholders.
What We Do; What We Don’t Do
What We Do
We pay our Manager a management fee and reimburse it for certain expenses it incurs in connection with managing our company, including the cash compensation paid to Mr. Hutchby, our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary.
We provide our NEOs with equity compensation in the form of LTIP Units, a special class of limited partnership units in our operating partnership, Cherry Hill Operating Partnership, L.P.
We link the amount of equity compensation awarded to our NEOs directly to our achievement of strategic and operational goals and company-specific financial metrics.
We use both absolute and relative company-specific financial metrics to create balance between company-specific financial performance and industry expectations.
We impose minimum vesting requirements on equity awards made to our NEOs (equity awards vest ratably over 3 years), encouraging long-term alignment and retention.
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We have a comprehensive incentive compensation recoupment (clawback) policy for performance-based compensation.
We have an independent Compensation Committee.
We provide stockholders with an opportunity to cast an advisory say-on-pay vote on an annual basis.
What We Don’t Do
We do not pay our NEOs any compensation other than LTIP Units awarded pursuant to our equity incentive plan.
We do not reimburse our Manager for the cash compensation paid to our NEOs other than the cash compensation paid to Mr. Hutchby, our Chief Financial Officers, Treasurer and Secretary.
We do not provide any perquisites to our NEOs.
We do not have any employment agreements with our NEOs and are not obligated to make any payments to them upon termination of employment.
None of our NEOs have the right to receive severance payments from us.
We are not required to make payments to our NEOs upon a change of control of our company; however, all LTIP Units granted to our NEOs vest immediately upon a change of control if the recipient of such LTIP Units is still performing services for us at the time of such change of control.
We do not have golden parachute excise or tax gross-up payments for our NEOs.
We do not have liberal recycling of shares under our 2023 Plan.
We do not grant stock options to our NEOs.
We do not permit any transactions in our securities without pre-clearance under our insider trading policy.
We do not permit hedging or pledging of our securities.
2023 Say-on-Pay Vote Results
At last year’sour 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, we provided stockholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory, non-binding say-on-pay advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officersNEOs for 2020 was approved by 89%2022, which consisted solely of equity awards in the form of LTIP Units made in January 2022 to our NEOs for 2022. Approximately 61% of the shares representedvotes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on last year’s say-on-pay proposal were voted in favor of the proposal, down from approximately 86% in the prior year. Last year’s say-on-pay vote was the first year that our proposal received less than 70% support from stockholders. Accordingly, the Compensation Committee believes it is too soon to determine whether issues raised by the low level of support are isolated or recurring.
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Our common stock is held predominantly by retail investors. As of the record date for last year’s annual meeting and as of the record date for this year’s Annual Meeting, no institutional investor held more than 5% of our outstanding common stock. Because of the retail ownership of our common stock, the Compensation Committee determined that outreach to investors would be difficult and that certain actions needed to be taken to show that it was being responsive to stockholders and their concerns with respect to our executive compensation program. As a result, the Compensation Committee took the following actions in light of the low level of support for our say-on-pay proposal at thelast year’s annual meeting.
The Compensation Committee focusesimplemented a more onformal structure for determining the amount of equity awards for our NEOs and other personnel who support us by tying 30% of the equity awards to the achievement of certain strategic and operational goals and performance70% of the company thanaward to the say-on-pay resultsachievement of certain company-specific financial metrics.
The Compensation Committee determined that no increase in determining the appropriate leveloverall size of the pool of LTIP Units awarded in January 2024 was justified and that the overall size of the pool of LTIP Units would be established at 80% of the overall size of the pool in the prior year.
The Compensation Committee engaged Pay Governance LLC as its independent compensation consultant to awardadvise the Compensation Committee on the overall design of our executive compensation program and to advise the namedCompensation Committee on its executive officers.compensation policies and practices going forward.
The Compensation PhilosophyCommittee is committed to engaging with stockholders in a meaningful way to address any concerns or issues that stockholders may have with respect to our executive compensation program. Stockholders who would like to discuss any issues relating to our executive compensation program should communicate with the Compensation Committee by following the procedures described in this proxy statement under the heading “Corporate Governance—Communication With the Board”.
Overview of Our Business; Company Performance Highlights
Overview of Our Business
We are an externally managed mortgage REIT that is focused on investing in, financing and managing residential mortgage assets in the United States. Our principal objective is to generate attractive current yields and risk-adjusted total returns for our stockholders over the long term, primarily through dividend distributions. Our Manager assists in our effortsdistributions and secondarily through capital appreciation. We attempt to achieveattain this objective by selectively constructing and actively managing a portfolio of servicing related assets (mortgage servicing rights and excess mortgage servicing assetsrights) and residential mortgage backedmortgage-backed securities.
Our equity compensation program attemptsWe operate so as to promotecontinue to qualify to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. To qualify as a REIT, we must distribute annually to our principal objective by establishing short-term operational and strategic goals that align with the long-term interestsstockholders an amount at least equal to 90% of our stockholders. The goals coveredREIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding any net capital portfoliogain. As a REIT, we are limited in our ability to grow our book value per share of common stock and operational risk control categories and included expansion of our company’sequity capital base through the issuancereinvestment of retained earnings from our business operations. We produce earnings through income we generate on our investments in residential mortgage assets, net of the interest we pay to finance our assets and the other expenses we incur to operating our business. The nature of our business model is a key factor the Compensation Committee considers in determining the amount of equity as and when market conditions permit and growing the servicing portfolio by establishing one or more additional flow purchase programs. We have used long-term incentive partnership units (“LTIP Units”) undercompensation to be awarded to our 2013 Plan to provide the equity compensation for our named executive officers. LTIP Units are a special class of partnership interest in our operating partnership, Cherry Hill Operating Partnership, LP. LTIP Units, whether vested or not, receive a quarterly per unit distribution equal to the per-share distributionsNEOs.
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Company Performance Highlights
 
2023
2022
Net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders
($44,647)
$11,886
Earnings available for distribution (“EAD”) to common stockholders(1)
$18,423
$21,827
Net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders per share
($1.70)
$0.60
EAD to common stockholders per share(1)
$0.70
$1.10
Dividends declared per share of common stock
$0.72
$1.08
Return (loss) on equity(2)
(28.0%)
7.0%
GAAP book value per share of common stock (“GAAP BVPS”), period end
$4.53
$6.06
Total economic return (loss) on GAAP BVPS(3)
(14.1%)
(16.7%)
Total economic return (loss) on NAV(4)
(4.9%)
(5.9%)
Price to book ratio(5)
89.3%
94.5%
(1)
“Earnings available for distribution to common stockholders” is a non-GAAP measure. A reconciliation to the GAAP measure net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders is provided in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 on page 59.
(2)
Return on equity is calculated as (i) net income allocable to common stockholders per share divided by (ii) beginning GAAP book value per share of common stock.
(3)
Total economic return (loss) on GAAP BVPS for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 is the compounded quarterly economic return (loss) on GAAP BVPS for each quarterly period in 2023 and 2022, as applicable.
Quarterly economic return (loss) on shares of our common stock. As a result, we believe that LTIP Units are a useful instrument to foster this alignment,GAAP BVPS for each quarterly period in 2023 is calculated as they vest over a three-yearfollows (dollars in thousands except per share amounts):
 
Quarter
Ended
3/31/23
Quarter
Ended
6/30/23
Quarter
Ended
9/30/23
Quarter
Ended
12/31/23
Total stockholders’ equity
$264,145
$262,569
$257,556
$258,375
Less: Non-controlling interests in Operating Partnership
($3,112)
($3,134)
($3,485)
($2,899)
Less: Aggregate liquidation preference of Series A and B Preferred Stock
($119,541)
($119,541)
($119,541)
($119,541)
Common CHMI stockholders’ equity
$141,492
$139,894
$134,530
$135,935
Common stock outstanding (period end)
25,648,130
26,978,077
26,978,077
30,019,969
GAAP BVPS
$5.52
$5.19
$4.99
$4.53
Quarterly common dividend per share
$0.27
$0.15
$0.15
$0.15
GAAP BVPS plus quarterly common dividend
$5.79
$5.34
$5.14
$4.68
Quarterly economic return (loss) on GAAP BVPS*
(4.5%)
(3.3%)
(1.0%)
(6.2%)
*
GAAP BVPS plus quarterly common dividend for the period divided by GAAP BVPS at the end of the prior period minus one.
Quarterly economic return (loss) on GAAP BVPS for each quarterly period and receive the same dividends that holders of our common stock receive.in 2022 is calculated as follows (dollars in thousands except per share amounts):
 
Quarter
Ended
3/31/22
Quarter
Ended
6/30/22
Quarter
Ended
9/30/22
Quarter
Ended
12/31/22
Total stockholders’ equity
$259,651
$255,084
$250,801
$265,516
Less: Non-controlling interests in Operating Partnership
($3,666)
($3,315)
($4,182)
($3,481)
Less: Aggregate liquidation preference of Series A and B Preferred Stock
($119,541)
($119,541)
($119,541)
($119,541)
Common CHMI stockholders’ equity
$136,444
$132,228
$127,078
$142,494
Common stock outstanding (period end)
18,766,848
19,647,945
20,989,030
23,508,130
GAAP BVPS
$7.27
$6.73
$6.05
$6.06
Quarterly common dividend per share
$0.27
$0.27
$0.27
$0.27
GAAP BVPS plus quarterly common dividend
$7.54
$7.00
$6.32
$6.33
Quarterly economic return (loss) on GAAP BVPS*
(11.9%)
(3.7%)
(6.1%)
4.6%
*
GAAP BVPS plus quarterly common dividend for the period divided by GAAP BVPS minus one.
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(4)
Total economic return (loss) on NAV for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 is the compounded quarterly economic return (loss) on NAV for each quarterly period in 2023 and 2022, as applicable.
Quarterly economic return (loss) on NAV for each quarterly period in 2023 is calculated as follows (dollars in thousands except per share amounts):
 
Quarter
Ended
3/31/23
Quarter
Ended
6/30/23
Quarter
Ended
9/30/23
Quarter
Ended
12/31/23
Total stockholders’ equity
$264,145
$262,569
$257,556
$258,375
Less: Non-controlling interests in Operating Partnership
($3,112)
($3,134)
($3,485)
($2,899)
Common and preferred CHMI stockholders’ equity(a)
$261,033
$259,435
$254,071
$255,476
Common stock outstanding (period end)
25,648,130
26,978,077
26,978,077
30,019,969
Adjustment for Series A and B preferred stock(b)
19,726,217
21,655,956
23,032,924
23,956,087
Adjusted shares of common stock outstanding (period end)
45,374,347
48,634,033
50,011,001
53,976,056
NAV per adjusted share of common stock
$5.75
$5.33
$5.08
$4.73
Quarterly common dividends
$6,925
$4,047
$4,047
$4,503
Quarterly preferred dividends
$2,466
$2,466
$2,466
$2,466
Quarterly cash dividends (common and preferred)
$9,391
$6,512
$6,512
$6,969
Quarterly cash dividend per adjusted share of common stock outstanding
$0.21
$0.13
$0.13
$0.13
NAV and quarterly cash dividend per adjusted share of common stock outstanding
$5.96
$5.46
$5.21
$4.86
Quarterly economic return (loss) on NAV*
(1.7%)
(1.0%)
0.4%
(2.6%)
*
NAV and quarterly cash dividend per adjusted share of common stock outstanding divided by NAV per adjusted share of common stock at the end of the prior period minus one.
(a)
Includes aggregate liquidation preference of Series A and B preferred stock of $119,541.
(b)
Aggregate liquidation preference of Series A and B preferred stock divided by GAAP BVPS as of the prior quarter end.
Quarterly economic return (loss) on NAV for each quarterly period in 2022 is calculated as follows (dollars in thousands except per share amounts):
 
Quarter
Ended
3/31/22
Quarter
Ended
6/30/22
Quarter
Ended
9/30/22
Quarter
Ended
12/31/22
Total stockholders’ equity
$259,651
$255,084
$250,801
$265,516
Less: Non-controlling interests in Operating Partnership
($3,666)
($3,315)
($4,182)
($3,481)
Common and preferred CHMI stockholders’ equity(a)
$255,985
$251,769
$246,619
$262,035
Common stock outstanding (period end)
18,766,848
19,647,945
20,989,030
23,508,130
Adjustment for Series A and B preferred stock(b)
13,965,055
16,443,036
17,762,389
19,758,822
Adjusted shares of common stock outstanding (period end)
32,731,903
36,090,981
38,751,419
43,266,952
NAV per adjusted share of common stock
$7.82
$6.98
$6.36
$6.06
Quarterly common dividends
$5,067
$5,305
$5,667
$6,347
Quarterly preferred dividends
$2,466
$2,466
$2,466
$2,466
Quarterly cash dividends (common and preferred)
$7,533
$7,771
$8,133
$8,813
Quarterly cash dividend per adjusted share of common stock outstanding
$0.23
$0.22
$0.21
$0.20
NAV and quarterly cash dividend per adjusted share of common stock outstanding
$8.05
$7.20
$6.57
$6.26
Quarterly economic return (loss) on NAV
(6.0%)
(1.0%)
(2.4%)
3.5%
*
NAV and quarterly cash dividend per adjusted share of common stock outstanding divided by NAV per adjusted share of common stock at the end of the prior period minus one.
(a)
Includes aggregate liquidation preference of Series A and B preferred stock of $119,541.
(b)
Aggregate liquidation preference of Series A and B preferred stock divided by GAAP BVPS as of the prior quarter end.
(5)
Calculated as the average of our quarter end common stock price divided by our quarter end GAAP book value per share of common stock for the four quarterly periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, as applicable.
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Cash and Other Compensation
We believe that our Manager uses payments made by us under the management agreement in part to pay for the services it receives under the services agreement with Freedom Mortgage, including the payroll and benefits received by Mr. Lown, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and the payroll and benefits received by Mr. Evans, our Chief Investment Officer. However, our Manager is not required to do so, and it is not required to provide us with information regarding the portion, if any, of the management fee so used. Our Manager itself has no formal compensation program. We do not pay or accrue any salaries to our named executive officers.NEOs. However, under the management agreement, we reimburse our Manager for the cash compensation paid to Mr. Hutchby, our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, as reflected in the “Summary“Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table” below.
Based on conversations with theour Manager, the aggregate compensation of our named executive officersNEOs that may reasonably be associated with their management of our company totaled approximately $2.48$2.6 million for 2021. This2023 (88.3% of which was fixed base salary and 11.7% of which was variable/incentive pay). The aggregate amountcompensation of our NEOs represents approximately 32%38.2% of the $7.8$6.8 million in total management fees and reimbursements paid by us to our Manager for 2021.2023. No specific metrics are utilized by our Manager or its affiliates for purposes of measuring performance to determine our NEOs’ variable/incentive pay.
Equity-BasedEquity Compensation
OurThe Compensation Committee is responsible for overseeing the equity incentivecompensation component of our executive compensation program and approves and recommends all equity awards granted pursuant to our 2013 Plan,equity incentive plan, which awards are then ratified by ourthe Board.
Equity Compensation Objectives and Philosophy
The equity compensation paid to our named executive officersNEOs is designed to drive and reward corporate performance. We believe our equity compensation program reflects good governance practices and the best interests of our stockholders, while striving to meet the following core objectives:
Strengthen our Ability to Retain our Work Force. We are a specialized company operating in a highly competitive industry, and our continued success depends on retaining our talented executive team. Our equity compensation program is designed to attract and retain highly qualified executives whose abilities and expertise are critical to our long-term success and our competitive advantage. The LTIP Units awarded to our NEOs vest over a three-year period which is particularly important for ourthe Compensation Committee since these individuals do not have employment contracts, and ourthe Compensation Committee does not have control over the level of cash compensation received by these individuals.
Align Risk and Reward. We are committed to creating an environment that encourages increased profitability for our company without undue risk-taking. We strive to focus our executive officers’NEOs’ decisions on goals that are consistent with our overall business strategy without threatening the long-term viability of our company.
Align NEOs’ Interests with Interests of Stockholders. We are committed to using our equity compensation program to focus our named executive officers’NEOs’ attention on creating value for our stockholders. We believe that the use of LTIPsLTIP Units for our equity compensation program directly aligns the interests of our named executive officersNEOs with those of our stockholders since the LTIPsLTIP Units only receive payments if and to the extent cash dividends are paid on shares of our common stock, and encourages our named executive officersNEOs to focus on creating long-term stockholder value.
Form of Equity Compensation Awarded to Our NEOs
Pursuant to our 2013 Plan, ourequity incentive plan, the Compensation Committee may grant equity awards to our NEOs in the form of LTIP Units, options, stock awards, stock appreciation rights, performance units, incentive awards or other equity-based awards to individuals performing services for us through our Manager.awards. Although our 2013 Planequity incentive plan provides for the use of these types of instruments, we have used LTIP Units with time-based vesting exclusively withas the form of equity awarded to our named executive officers.NEOs.
Initially, LTIP Units do not have full parity with our operating partnership’s common units of limited partnership interest in our operating partnership (“OPCommon Units”) with respect to liquidating distributions. Under the terms of the LTIP Units,our operating partnership’s partnership agreement, our operating partnership revalues its assets upon the occurrence of certain
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specified events, and any increase in our operating partnership’s valuation from the time of grant of LTIP Units until such event is allocated first to the holders of LTIP Units to equalize the capital accounts of such holders with the capital accounts of holders of OPCommon Units.
Upon equalization of the capital accounts of the holders of LTIP Units with the holders of OPCommon Units, the LTIP Units achieve full parity with the OPCommon Units for all purposes, including with respect to liquidating
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distributions. If such parity is reached, vested LTIP Units may be converted into an equal number of OPCommon Units at any time, and thereafter are entitled to all the rights of OPCommon Units, including the right to cause our operating partnership to redeem their OPCommon Units for cash or, at our option, those OP Units may be purchased by us for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis. However, there are circumstances under which such parity would not be reached.
The grant of LTIP Units does not trigger a tax event for either us or the recipientour NEOs and limits the financial statement impact due to the three-year vesting feature. TheyLTIP Units also provide an immediate reward to the recipients because LTIP Units receive distributions as and when dividends are paid on our common stock, whether or not the LTIP Units have fully vested. This form of reward also creates an incentive that is fully aligned with that of our stockholders since distributions are only made if and to the extent holders of our common stock receive cash dividends.
We believe our compensation policies are particularly appropriate since we are an externally managed REIT. To qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, regulations require us to distribute to our stockholders each calendar year at least 90% of our REIT taxable income (including certain items of non-cash income), determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gain. As a result, we believe that our stockholders are principally interested in receiving attractive risk-adjusted dividends and stability in book value. Accordingly, we want to provide an incentive to our personnel that rewards success in achieving these goals and efforts to build the business over time. We believe that this alignment of interests provides an incentive to our personnel to implement strategies that will enhance our long-term performance and promote growth in dividends while preserving book value.
Effective January 3, 2022, our2023 LTIP Awards
On January 10, 2023, the Compensation Committee and the Board approved the grant of an aggregate amount of 28,50043,700 LTIP Units under our 2013 Plan to our named executive officers,NEOs (the “January 2023 LTIP Awards”). The January 2023 LTIP Awards had an aggregate grant date fair value of $264,822 based on our closing stock price on January 10, 2023 of $6.06. The January 2023 LTIP Awards are set forth in more detail under the heading “Executive Compensation – Grants of Plan-Based Awards”. The individual grants made to each of our NEOs on January 10, 2023 are set forth below:
 
Number of
LTIP Units
Granted
Aggregate Grant
Date Fair Value of
LTIP Units
Granted(1)
Year-over-Year
Percentage Increase in
Aggregate Grant
Date Fair Value(2)
Fair Value of LTIP
Units at
December 31,
2023(3)
Jeffrey B. Lown II
19,100
$115,746
10.2%
$77,164
Michael A. Hutchby
12,300
$74,538
10.9%
$49,692
Julian B. Evans
12,300
$74,538
10.9%
$49,692
Total/Average
43,700
$264,822
10.6%
$176,548
(1)
Based on our closing stock price on January 10, 2023 of $6.06.
(2)
On January 3, 2022, our NEOs received an aggregate of 28,500 LTIP Units with an aggregate grant date fair value of $239,400 based on our closing stock price on January 3, 2022 of $8.40. Mr. Lown was granted 12,500 LTIP Units with an aggregate grant date fair value of $105,000. Mr. Hutchby was granted 8,000 LTIP Units with an aggregate grant date fair value of $67,200. Mr. Evans was granted 8,000 LTIP Units with an aggregate grant date fair value of $67,200.
(3)
Based on our closing stock price on December 29, 2023 of $4.04.
Based on a recommendation made by Mr. Lown receiving 12,500to the members of the Compensation Committee in the fourth quarter of 2022, the Compensation Committee determined that a 10.6% year-over-year increase in the aggregate grant date fair value of the LTIP Units Mr. Hutchby receiving 8,000awarded to our NEOs compared to the aggregate grant date fair value of the LTIP Units and Mr. Evans receiving 8,000 LTIP Units. Inawarded to our NEOs in January 2021, our2022 was warranted. This determination was made by the Compensation Committee at its discretion and Board approved the grant of an aggregate amount of 13,800 LTIP Units under our 2013 Planno formulas or specific weightings were assigned to our named executive officers, with Mr. Hutchby receiving 7,000 LTIP Units and Mr. Evans receiving 6,800 LTIP Units. Mr. Lown did not receive any LTIP Unitsfactor in 2021 as a result of difficulties and challenges faced by the Company during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. LTIP Units are granted to our named executive officers in an effort to retain personnel who provide services to us through our Manager and in recognition of our overall development and the financial performance of the business during the year. Consistent with our compensation philosophy and objectives discussed above, ourreaching this determination. The Compensation Committee considered a number of key company results and
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developments relating to strategic and operational goals in determining whether it was appropriate to grant equity awards to our named executive officers for performance during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021,NEOs in January 2023, including, among other things, that our company:
continuedContinued dividend payments throughout the year2022 and delivered value to stockholders through total cash dividends of $1.08 per share of common stock in 2021,2022, equivalent to an average dividend yield of 11.5%18.6%;
Developed reliable performance metrics for the Board to assess our absolute performance and our relative performance in our respective peer group;
Enhanced our internal portfolio and financial reporting metrics to provide the Board with a better understanding of our performance at any point in time; and
Remained compliant with GSE covenants and regulation at our licensed mortgage servicing subsidiary, Aurora Financial Group, Inc. (“Aurora”).
In addition to the strategic and operational goals noted above, the Compensation Committee considered certain financial performance metrics included the following:
Total Economic Return (Loss) on NAV vs. Average Peer Group Total Economic Return (Loss) on NAV. Over a performance period beginning on October 1, 2021 and ending on September 30, 2022, we achieved a total economic return on NAV of (9.8%), while simultaneously maintaining throughoutcompared to an average total economic return on NAV for a peer group of 13 externally and internally managed public mortgage REITs (the “Peer Group”) of (21.1%) over the yearsame period. For an explanation of how we calculate total economic return (loss) on NAV please see “—Overview of Our Business; Company Performance Highlights—Company Performance Highlights”. Total economic return (loss) on NAV for the amount of unrestricted cash heldcompanies in the Peer Group was determined based on publicly available information. While certain companies in the Peer Group have considerably larger market capitalizations than us, we focused on companies that have investment strategies comparable to ours and companies that are similar to us in asset management and investment complexity. The Peer Group is used by us to assess our financial performance relative to the Peer Group and not for benchmarking purposes. The Peer Group was recommended by our NEOs and approved by the company at a level significantly greater than before the onsetCompensation Committee and consisted of the COVID-19 pandemicfollowing companies:
Two Harbors Investment Corp.
Ellington Residential Mortgage REIT
AG Mortgage Investment Trust, Inc.
Chimera Investment Corporation
Dynex Capital, Inc.
Ellington Financial Inc.
Annaly Capital Management, Inc.
AGNC Investment Corp.
MFA Financial, Inc.
Armour Residential REIT, Inc.
New York Mortgage Trust, Inc.
Orchid Island Capital, Inc.
Invesco Mortgage Capital, Inc.
Total Economic Return (Loss) on GAAP BVPS vs. Average Peer Group Total Economic Return (Loss) on GAAP BVPS. Over a performance period beginning on October 1, 2021 and ending on September 30, 2022, we achieved a total economic return (loss) on GAAP BVPS of (22.4%), compared to an average total economic return (loss) on GAAP BVPS for the Peer Group of (27.0%) over the same period. For an explanation of how we calculate total economic return (loss) on GAAP BVPS, please see “—Overview of Our Business; Company Performance Highlights—Company Performance Highlights”. Total economic return (loss) on GAAP BVPS for companies in the springPeer Group was determined based on publicly available information.
Price to Book Ratio vs. Average Peer Group Price to Book Ratio. Over a performance period beginning on October 1, 2021 and ending on September 30, 2022, we achieved a price to book ratio of 2020;
refinanced a Fannie Mae MSR credit facility by entering into a new $150.0 million Fannie Mae MSR revolving facility with a different lender and adding a $30.0 million sub-limit for Fannie Mae servicing advances
in anticipation of spread widening on RMBS assets that would accompany an imminent taper of purchasing by the U.S. Federal Reserve, began the process of selling down the RMBS portfolio, which in turn reduced risk and leverage and increased the amount of capital to be deployed when in a more attractive investment environment; and
demonstrated its commitment to the well-being of the personnel who provide services to us and their families through support of a 100% work-from-home policy through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, transitioning back94.7% compared to an in-person environmentaverage price to book ratio for the Peer Group of 87.1% over the same period. For an explanation of how we calculate price to book ratio, please see “—Overview of Our Business; Company Performance Highlights—Company Performance Highlights”. Price to book ratio for the companies in the third quarter of 2021, with a flexible work environment that enables our personnel to be productive contributors to our company through a work-from-home option.Peer Group was determined based on publicly available information.
20

When determining the number of LTIP Units granted to each of our named executive officers, ourNEOs, the Compensation Committee took into account the factors described above, as well as the individual’s role and responsibility in attaining the results listed above, the individual’s expected and actual job performance, the individual’s ability to influence the outcome of our company’s future performance, the value of the award in retaining and motivating key personnel and economic and market conditions generally. OurThe Compensation Committee considered all of these factors in exercising its discretion to determine the equity awards granted to each named executive officer for his performance during the year ended December 31, 2021.January 2023 LTIP Awards.
We have not in the past made equity awards on a fixed schedule to our named executive officers, and our
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The Compensation Committee’s decision on whether to approve any equity awards in future periods will depend on a number of factors, including our company’s performance, market trends and practices, expense implications, tax efficiencies or other considerations in ourthe Compensation Committee’s sole discretion.
Role of Named Executive OfficersOur President and CEO in Equity-BasedEquity Compensation Decisions
OurThe Compensation Committee makes all equity-basedequity compensation decisions related to our named executive officers. OurNEOs. The Compensation Committee receives input from Mr. Lown, our President and Chief Executive Officer, regarding the equity compensation and performance of named executive officersour NEOs other than himself, including recommendations as to the equity compensation levels that he believes are commensurate with an individual’s job performance, skills, experience, qualifications, criticality to our company, as well as with our compensation philosophy, external market data and considerations of internal equity. Mr. Lown regularly attends meetings of ourthe Compensation Committee, except when ourthe Compensation Committee is meeting in executive session or when his own equity compensation arrangements are being considered. OurThe Compensation Committee communicates its views and decisions regarding equity compensation arrangements for our named executive officersNEOs to Mr. Lown, who is generally responsible for implementing such arrangements.
Compensation Policies and Practices as They Relate to Risk Management
The management fee under the management agreement is calculated based on a fixed percentage of stockholders’ equity, as adjusted and defined in that agreement, and is payable quarterly in arrears. Calculation of the management fee is not dependent upon our financial performance or the performance of our named executive officers.NEOs. Thus, the management fee does not create an incentive for our managementNEOs to take excessive or unnecessary risks. Specifically, the use of stockholders’ equity to calculate the management fee does not result in leveraged pay-out curves, steep pay-out cliffs, or set unreasonable goals and thresholds, each of which can promote excessive and unnecessary risks. Our independent directorsThe members of the Compensation Committee are provided with the management fees and expenses each quarter, providing a check upon any improper effort by our Manager to increase compensation payments indirectly via the pass-through of costs. We will continue to have certain costs allocated to us by our Manager for compensation, data services and proprietary technology and other costs, including the compensation paid to Mr. Hutchby, our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, but most expenses we incur with third-party vendors are paid directly by us. The management fee itself cannot be increased or revised without the approval of our independent directors.
We believe this management fee is not likely to create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on us. We have designed the incentives and rewards related to grants of LTIP Units under our 20132023 Plan, as such policies and practices relate to or affect risk taking on our behalf, in a manner that we believe will not cause our named executive officers provided to us through our ManagerNEOs to seek to make higher risk investments. We have designed the equity compensation portion of the compensation program in an attempt to align the efforts of our personnelNEOs to meet specified short-term and strategic goals with the long-term best interests of our stockholders.
Compensation Clawback Policy
In 2023, we adopted a new clawback policy as required by the requirements of Rule 10D-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual listing standards adopted pursuant to Rule 10D-1. The new clawback policy requires us to clawback erroneously awarded incentive compensation paid to current and former executive officers in the event of a restatement of our financial statements (without regard to the fault of the executive). Restatements that trigger such recoupment are restatements due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement applicable to us under the federal securities laws, including restatements to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements, or that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period. Except in very limited circumstances, in the event of such a restatement, the new clawback policy requires the recoupment of incentive compensation paid to the executive officer in excess of the amount that would have been paid if the amount of such incentive compensation had been based on the restated financial statements.
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January 2024 LTIP Awards
On January 16, 2024, the Compensation Committee Reportand the Board approved the grant of an aggregate of 41,925 LTIP Units under our 2023 Plan to our NEOs (the “January 2024 LTIP Awards”). The January 2024 LTIP Awards had an aggregate grant date fair value of $164,346 based on our closing stock price on January 16, 2024 of $3.92.
The January 2024 LTIP Awards do not appear in the stock awards column of the summary compensation table or the grants of plan-based awards table appearing under the heading “Executive Compensation – Summary Compensation Table” and “– Grants of Plan Based Awards”.
The individual grants made to each of our NEOs on January 16, 2024 are set forth below:
 
Number of
LTIP Units Granted
Aggregate Grant Date
Fair Value of
LTIP Units Granted(1)
Year-over-Year
Percentage Decrease in
Aggregate Grant Date
Fair Value(2)
Jeffrey B. Lown II
11,700
$45,864
60.3%
Michael A. Hutcbhy
15,600
$61,152
18.0%
Julian B. Evans
14,625
$57,330
23.1%
Total/Average
41,925
$164,346
37.9%
(1)
Based on our closing stock price on January 16, 2024 of $3.92.
(2)
As described in more detail above, our NEOs received an aggregate of 43,700 LTIP Units on January 10, 2023. These LTIP Units had an aggregate grant date fair value of $264,822 based on our closing stock price on January 10, 2023 of $6.06. Mr. Lown was granted 19,100 LTIP Units with an aggregate grant date fair value of $115,746. Mr. Hutchby was granted 12,300 LTIP Units with an aggregate grant date fair value of $74,538. Mr. Evans was granted 12,300 LTIP Units with an aggregate grant date fair value of $74,538.
In December 2023, the Compensation Committee exercised discretion and determined the overall size of the pool of LTIP Units to be awarded in January 2024 (the “2024 LTIP Unit Pool”) to our NEOs and other personnel who support us. The overall size of the 2024 LTIP Unit Pool was set at $436,668, or 80% of the overall size of the pool of LTIP Units awarded in January 2023 to our NEOs and other personnel who support us (the “2023 LTIP Unit Pool”). The Compensation Committee determined that an increase in the overall size of the 2024 LTIP Unit Pool was not warranted because our say-on-pay proposal at the 2023 annual meeting received less than 70% support from our stockholders. The Compensation Committee set the overall size of the 2024 LTIP Unit pool at 80% of the overall size of the 2023 LTIP Unit Pool based on our achievement of certain strategic and operational goals and certain company-specific financial performance metrics. The Compensation Committee assigned a 30% weighting to the strategic and operational goals and a 70% weighting to the company-specific financial performance metrics. The Compensation Committee then determined that the strategic and operational goals had been earned at the 100% level and the company-specific financial performance metrics had been achieved on a weighted average basis of 70%. Based on the achievement of the strategic and operational goals and the company-specific financial performance metrics, and after considering the results of the 2023 say-on-pay advisory vote, the Compensation Committee established the overall size of the January 2024 Pool at $436,668 (80% of the overall size of the January 2023 LTIP Unit Pool). After establishing the overall size of the January 2024 LTIP Unit Pool, the Compensation Committee authorized Mr. Lown to allocate the LTIP Units to the NEOs and other personnel who support us at his discretion, with the final allocation subject to approval by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee approved the final allocation of the LTIP Units in January 2024.
In December 2023, the Compensation Committee determined that we had achieved the following strategic and operational goals, which had been assigned a 30% weighting, at the 100% level:
We maintained funding diversification to ensure sufficient availability and capacity maintenance.
We provided comprehensive and transparent public financial disclosure and enhanced operational efficiencies by developing new tools and processes across all investment ventures with the intention of modernizing and streamlining our systems and operations.
We took steps to improve our capital structure through various mechanisms to enhance return potential to our common stockholders. These steps included publicly announcing our intention to repurchase shares of our outstanding preferred stock through a $50 million preferred stock repurchase program. We
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intend to fund these repurchases with net proceeds from the issuance and sale of our common stock pursuant to our existing at-the-market offering program. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we issued and sold 6,470,004 shares of common stock under our at-the-market offering program. The shares were sold at a weighted average price of $4.87 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $31.5 million before fees of approximately $631,000.
We identified and integrated a new sub-servicer to replace Roundpoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation due to its recent acquisition by Matrix Financial Services Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of another publicly traded REIT, to ensure consistent and independent servicing quality to our portfolio of servicing-related assets.
We continued building on our advances with respect corporate social responsibility initiatives in the previous year and taking further steps to improve our corporate governance profile with institutional investors.
We minimized any material adverse audit issues, remained compliance with GSE covenants and regulation at Aurora, adhered to our investment risk reporting framework in order to mitigate exposure to market volatility and reduced liquidity in a rising interest rate environment.
We took steps to fortify our information technology infrastructure to bolster information security and resilience and our ability to respond to threats from material cybersecurity incidents.
We leveraged innovative data analytics tools to extract valuable insights from business and market data to enhance our decision-making processes and facilitate insightful strategic resolutions.
In December 2023, the Compensation Committee determined that we had achieved certain company-specific financial performance metrics, which had been assigned a weighting of 70%, over a performance period beginning on October 1, 2022 and ending on September 30, 2023, on weighted average basis of 70%. The Compensation Committee exercised discretion and determined that financial performance should be measured over the four-quarter period ended September 30, 2023 because these metrics were used by the Compensation Committee in December 2023 to establish the overall size of the January 2024 LTIP Unit Pool. The company-specific financial metrics considered by the Compensation Committee consisted of the following:
Performance Metric
Metric
Weight
Below
Threshold
Threshold
Target
Out-
Performance
Actual
Performance
(October 1,
2022 to
September
30, 2023)
Economic Return on NAV vs. Peer Group(1)
40%
< -0.25
-0.25
0.25
> 0.50
0.13
Economic Return on GAAP BVPS vs. Peer Group(1)
25%
< -0.25
-0.25
0.25
> 0.50
-0.39
Absolute Economic Return on NAV
20%
< 0.0%
0.0%
9.0%
> 15.0%
1.2%
Price to Book Ratio vs. Peer Group(1)
15%
< -0.25
-0.25
0.25
> 0.50
0.39
 
Payout Continuum (% of Target)
 
100%
0%
50%
100%
200%
70.0%
(1)
The peer group for purposes of the January 2024 LTIP Awards was the same as the Peer Group used for purposes of the January 2023 LTIP Awards. For an explanation of how we calculate economic return (loss) on GAAP BVPS, economic return (loss) on NAV and price to book ratio, please see “—Overview of Our Business; Company Performance Highlights—Company Performance Highlights”.
Based on our actual performance and the actual performance of the peer group over the period from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 and applying linear interpolation, the Compensation Committee determined that we earned the relative economic return on NAV component between threshold and target at 88.0%, the relative economic return on GAAP BVPS component at below threshold, the absolute economic return on NAV component between threshold and target at 56.8% and the relative price to book ratio component between target and out-performance at 156.6%. This resulted in achievement of the company-specific financial metrics on a weighted average basis of 70.0%.
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
In accordance with and to the extent permitted by applicable law or regulation, the information contained in this Compensation Committee Report is not “soliciting material,”material”, is not deemed to be “filed” with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act or under the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates such information by reference in such filing.
The Compensation Committee of the Company has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to ourthe Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.Statement.
Submitted By the Compensation Committee:
Regina Lowrie, Chair
Joseph P. Murin
Submitted By the Compensation Committee:
Sharon L. Cook, Chairperson
Joseph P. Murin
Robert C. Mercer, Jr.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our named executive officersNEOs for the past three fiscal years.
Name and Position
Year
Salary(1)
Stock
Awards(2)
Total
Name
Year
Salary(1)
Stock
Awards(2)
Total
Jeffrey B. Lown II
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
2021
2023
__
$115,746
$115,746
2020
td09,125
td09,125
2022
__
td05,000
td05,000
2019
$211,680
$211,680
2021
__
__
__
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Michael A. Hutchby
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
2021
$450,000
$61,670
$511,670
2023
$580,000
$74,538
$654,538
2020
$425,000
$69,113
$494,113
2022
$510,000
$67,200
$577,200
2019
$415,000
td05,840
$520,840
2021
$450,000
$61,670
$511,670
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Julian B. Evans
Chief Investment Officer
2021
$59,908
$59,908
2023
__
$74,538
$74,538
2020
$69,113
$69,113
2022
__
$67,200
$67,200
2019
td41,120
td41,120
2021
__
$59,908
$59,908
(1)
Amounts in this column represent our allocable sharethe costs of the salary and other benefits paid to Mr. Hutchby through our Manager and reimbursed by us to our Manager based upon an agreed upon percentage.Manager.
(2)
Effective January 4, 2021,10, 2023, (a) Mr. Lown was granted 19,100 LTIP Units, (b) Mr. Hutchby was granted 7,00012,300 LTIP Units and (b)(c) Mr. Evans was granted 6,80012,300 LTIP Units. These LTIP Units were granted pursuant to our 2013 Plan and vest ratably over a three-year period beginning on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued employment. With respect to the LTIP Units, the dollar amounts indicated in the table under “Stock Awards” represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, disregarding estimated forfeitures. For additional information regarding the valuation of LTIP Units, see Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. Mr. Lown did not receive any LTIP Units in 2021.2023.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table summarizes each equity award granted to our named executive officersNEOs pursuant to our 2013 Plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021:2023:
Name
Grant Date
All Other Stock Awards:
Number of Shares of
Stock or Units(1)
Grant Date Fair Value
of Stock and Option
Awards(2)
Grant Date
All Other Stock Awards:
Number of Shares of
Stock or Units(1)
Grant Date Fair Value
of Stock and Option
Awards(2)
Jeffrey B. Lown II
1/4/2021
1/10/2023
19,100
$115,746
Michael A. Hutchby
1/4/2021
7,000
$61,670
1/10/2023
12,300
$74,538
Julian B. Evans
1/4/2021
6,800
$59,908
1/10/2023
12,300
$74,538
(1)
See also “Summary Compensation Table” above. The LTIP Units were granted pursuant to our 2013 Plan and will vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, so long as the named executive officer remains employed and complies with the terms and conditions of his LTIP Unit award agreement.
(2)
The amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, disregarding estimated forfeitures. For additional information regarding the valuation of LTIP Units, see Note 6 to the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.2023.
Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table
The LTIP Units described above were granted to our named executive officers other than Mr. LownNEOs pursuant to ourthe 2013 Plan. Due to challenges faced by the Company in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Lown did not receive any LTIP Units in 2021. Our Manager, our operating partnership and Freedom Mortgage arewere not eligible to participate in ourthe 2013 Plan because participation in ourthe 2013 Plan is limited to individuals.
OurThe 2013 Plan iswas administered by ourthe Compensation Committee, except that ourthe 2013 Plan will bewas administered by ourthe Board with respect to awards made to directors who are not employees. Our officers, employees and directors and the officers and employees of our affiliates arewere eligible to participate in ourthe 2013 Plan. In addition, individuals who provide services to us or an affiliate through our Manager arewere eligible to receive awards under ourthe 2013 Plan.
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OurThe 2013 Plan provides for grants of up to an aggregate of 5.0%expired by its terms in October 2023. Our stockholders approved the adoption of the outstanding shares of our common stock (on a fully diluted basis)2023 Plan at the time of2023 Annual Meeting and the award, subject2023 Plan became effective on June 15, 2023 and no new awards were to a maximum aggregate number of shares of our common stock that may be issuedgranted under ourthe 2013 Plan of 1,500,000 shares. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, 943,989 shares of our common stock remained available for future grants under our 2013 Plan.after that date.
Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 20212023
The following table sets forth information concerning equity incentive plan awards for each of our named executive officersNEOs outstanding at December 31, 2021.2023.
Name
Number of Shares That
Have Not Vested(1)
Market Value of Share
That Have Not Vested(2)
Number of Shares That
Have Not Vested(1)
Market Value of Share
That Have Not Vested(2)
Jeffrey B. Lown II
9,000
$74,430
27,433
$110,829
Michael A. Hutchby
12,166
$100,613
19,965
$80,659
Julian B. Evans
12,632
$104,467
19,899
$80,392
(1)
Represents shares of common stock underlying unvested LTIP Units granted to our named executive officersNEOs pursuant to our 2013 Plan. The LTIP Units will vest ratably over the three-year period beginning on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued employment. Vesting dates of these shares are January 2, 2021, January 2, 2022,3, 2024, January 4, 2022,2024, January 2, 2023,10, 2024, January 4, 20233, 2025, January 10, 2025 and January 4, 2024.10, 2026.
(2)
Pursuant to SEC rules, for purposes of this table the market value per share of common stock underlying unvested LTIP Units is assumed to be $8.27,$4.04, which was the closing market price per share of our common stock on December 31, 2021.2023.
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
Stock Awards
Name
Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting(1)
Value Realized on
Vesting
Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting(1)
Value Realized in
Vesting
Jeffrey B. Lown II
9,333
$86,958
6,667
$39,083
Michael A. Hutchby
4,917
$45,543
6,583
$38,590
Julian B. Evans
6,000
$55,783
6,517
$38,199
(1)
This number represents the vesting during 20212023 of previously granted service-based LTIP Units and OP Units distributed in lieu of a cash dividend in April 2020.Units. An individual, upon the vesting of an equity award, does not receive cash equal to the amount contained in the Value Realized on Vesting column of this table. Instead, the amounts contained in the Value Realized on Vesting column reflect the market value of our common stock on the applicable vesting date. For purposes of this table, it is assumed that one LTIP Unit represents the economic equivalent of one share of Common Stock. The LTIP Units do not realize their full economic value until certain conditions are met as described in this proxy statement under the caption “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION—“—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Equity-Based Compensation.”Compensation”.
Pension Benefits and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
We do not provide any of our named executive officersNEOs with pension benefits or nonqualified deferred compensation.
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
We do not have any employment agreements with any of our named executive officersNEOs and are not obligated to make any payments to them upon termination of employment. None of our named executive officersNEOs have the right to receive severance payments from us, and we are not required to make payments to any named executive officer upon a change of control of our company. However, all LTIP Units granted pursuant to our 2013 Plan and 2023 Plan vest immediately upon a change of control if the recipient of such LTIP Units is still performing services for us at the time of such change of control. The value, based on the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2021,2023, as reported by the NYSE of the LTIP Units held by our named executive officersNEOs as of December 31, 20212023 that would be accelerated assuming a change in control was approximately $1.2$1.1 million of which approximately $574,000, $297,000$455,000, $290,000 and $365,000$319,000 would be allocated to Messrs. Lown, Hutchby and Evans, respectively.
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Pay Versus Performance
As required by Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the information below regarding the relationship between executive compensation and our financial performance for each of 2023, 2022 and 2021. The table below summarizes the (i) compensation values reported in the Summary Compensation Table for our President and Chief Executive Officer, and average for our other NEOs excluding the Chief Executive Officer (our “Non-CEO NEOs”) as compared to the “Compensation Actually Paid”, calculated pursuant to the applicable rules and (ii) our financial performance for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Year
Summary
Compensation
Total for
Chief
Executive
Officer(1)
Compensation
Actually Paid
to Chief
Executive
Officer(2)
Average
Summary
Compensation
Table Total for
Named Executive
Officers
Excluding Chief
Executive
Officer(3)
Average
Compensation
Actually Paid
to Named
Executive
Officers
Excluding
Chief Executive
Officer(2)(3)
Total
Shareholder
Return(4)
Net Income
(Loss)(5)
2023
$115,746
$62,915
$364,538
$326,665
$67.66
($35,455,000)
2022
$105,000
$67,170
$322,200
$286,871
$84.75
$22,189,000
2021
($6,178)
$285,789
$278,052
$101.61
$12,530,000
(1)
For each of the years included above, our Chief Executive Officer was Mr. Lown. We are an externally managed company, and we did not pay any cash compensation to Mr. Lown. Accordingly, compensation information for Mr. Lown is limited to stock awards.
(2)
As required by Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, reconciliation tables illustrating the calculation of Compensation Actually Paid are presented under “Pay versus Performance Supplemental Information – Reconciliation of Summary Compensation to Compensation Actually Paid” immediately below.
(3)
Individuals comprising our Non-CEO NEOs are Mr. Hutchby, our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary, and Mr. Evans, our Chief Investment Officer. Compensation information for our Non-CEO NEOs includes stock awards and the costs of the salary paid to Mr. Hutchby and reimbursed by us to our Manager.
(4)
Total Shareholder Return assumes $100 invested at December 31, 2021 in our common stock and the reinvestment of dividends.
(5)
Represents GAAP net income before allocation to noncontrolling interests as reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Pay versus Performance Supplemental Information – Reconciliation of Summary Compensation to Compensation Actually Paid
“Compensation actually paid” represents totals from the Summary Compensation Table above, adjusted for certain items as detailed in the following table for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Adjustments to Summary Compensation Tables to Determine Compensation Actually Paid to Chief Executive Officer
2023
2022
2021
Reported Summary Compensation Table for Chief Executive Officer
$115,746
$105,000
Deduction of Amounts Reported under the “Stock Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table
($115,746)
($105,000)
Equity Award Adjustments
 
 
 
Year End Fair Value of Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Covered Year
$77,164
$72,500
Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards
($14,666)
($6,175)
($7,830)
Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years that Vested in the Covered Year
$417
$845
$1,652
Compensation Actually Paid to Chief Executive Officer
$62,915
$67,170
($6,178)
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Adjustments to Summary Compensation Tables to Determine Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-CEO NEOs
2023
2022
2021
Average Reported Summary Compensation Table for Non-CEO NEOs
$364,538
$322,200
$285,789
Deduction of Average Amounts Reported under the “Stock Awards” Column in the Summary Compensation Table
($74,538)
($67,200)
$(60,789)
Equity Award Adjustments
 
 
 
Average Year End Fair Value of Unvested Equity Awards Granted in the Covered Year
$49,692
$46,400
$57,063
Average Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Equity Awards
($13,432)
($15,268)
$(4,784)
Average Year over Year Change in Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years and Vested in the Covered Year
$405
$739
$773
Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-CEO NEOs
$326,665
$286,871
$278,052
Relationship Between “Compensation Actually Paid” and Performance Measures
The graph below illustrates the relationship of “compensation actually paid” to our Chief Executive Officer and “average compensation actually paid” to our Non-CEO NEOs, in either case, to total shareholder return for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

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The graph below illustrates the relationship of “compensation actually paid” to our Chief Executive Officer and “average compensation actually paid” to our Non-CEO NEOs, in either case, to net income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

CEO PAY RATIO DISCLOSURE
The SEC has issued final rules implementing the provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) that require U.S. publicly-traded companies to disclose the ratio of their chief executive officer’s compensation to that of their median employee. As noted above, our President and Chief Executive Officer does not receive any direct cash compensation or benefits from us, and we do not reimburse our Manager for the cash compensation and benefits paid to Mr. Lown. Because we do not pay, or provide reimbursement for, any direct cash compensation to Mr. Lown and we have no employees, we are not able to calculate and provide a ratio of the median employee’s annual total compensation to the total annual compensation of Mr. Lown.
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PROPOSAL NO. 2:
APPROVAL, ON A NON-BINDING ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act and Section 951 of the Dodd-Frank Act, we are providing stockholders with an opportunity to vote, on a non-binding advisory basis, on the compensation of our named executive officersNEOs as disclosed in this Proxy Statement in accordance with SEC rules. The advisory vote on executive compensation described in this proposal is commonly referred to as a “say-on-pay vote.”vote”.
As described under “Executive Compensation — Compensation“Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above, we are externally managed and advised by our Manager. We do not have any agreements with our named executive officersNEOs with respect to their cash compensation and do not intend to directly pay any cash compensation to them. We reimburse our Manager for the cash compensation that is paid to Mr. Hutchby, our Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary. We believe that our Manager uses payments made by us under the management agreement in part to pay for the services it receives under the services agreement, including payroll and benefits services received by our named executive officers.NEOs. However, our Manager is not required to do so, and it is not required to provide us with information regarding the portion, if any, of the management fee so used. Our named executive officersNEOs also receive equity awards granted by ourthe Compensation Committee.
We do not determine the amount of the cash compensation payable by our Manager to our named executive officers. Our Manager does not itself have a formal compensation program; rather the cash compensation earned by our named executive officers, all of which is fixed, is determined based on recommendations from Mr. Lown, as the President of our Manager which are acknowledged and implemented by the Services Provider. Our named executive officers may choose to participate in the employee benefit plans offered by the Services Provider.
This proposal gives our stockholders the opportunity to express their views on the overall compensation of our named executive officersNEOs and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this Proxy Statement. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of the compensation and is not a vote on our general compensation policies, compensation of ourthe Board or our compensation policies as they relate to risk management. For the reasons discussed above, we are asking our stockholders to indicate their support for our named executive officer compensation by voting FORfor the following resolution at the virtual Annual Meeting:
“RESOLVED, that the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers,NEOs, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K (which disclosure includes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and any related narrative discussion disclosed in this Proxy Statement), is hereby approved.”
The say-on-pay vote is advisory only, and therefore it will not bind us or ourthe Board. OurThe Board and ourthe Compensation Committee will consider the voting results as appropriate when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.
OurThe Board recommends a vote FOR“FOR” the approval, on a non-binding advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement.
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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
The members of the Audit Committee are Mr. Mercer (Chairman), Mr. Murin and Ms. Lowrie.
Each of the members of the Audit Committee (Mr. Mercer (chairperson), Mr. Murin and Ms. Cook) has been determined to be “independent” within the meaning of the applicable standards of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act. In addition, each of these members meets the financial literacy requirements for audit committee membership under the NYSE’s rules and the rules and regulations of the SEC. OurThe Board has determined that each of Mr. Mercer and Mr. Murin is an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K. No member of the Audit Committee serves on the audit committee of more than three public companies. OurThe Board has adopted, and annually reviews, the charter of the Audit Committee, which sets forth the Audit Committee’s responsibilities and how it carries out those responsibilities.
The Audit Committee oversees our company’s financial reporting process on behalf of ourthe Board, in accordance with the charter of the Audit Committee. Pursuant to its charter, the primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist ourthe Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to: (i) the integrity of the company’s financial statements and financial reporting process, our systems of internal accounting and financial controls and other financial information we provide; (ii) the performance of the internal audit services function; (iii) the annual independent audit of our financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, the engagement of the independent auditors and the evaluation of the independent auditors’ qualifications, independence and performance; (iv) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, including our disclosure controls and procedures; and (v) the evaluation of risk assessment and risk management policies. Our registered independent public accounting firm, EY, is responsible for expressing an opinion on (a) the conformity of our company’s audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles and (b) our company’s maintenance of internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework).
In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management and EY the audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021,2023, and discussed with management and EY the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements. The Audit Committee also reviewed and discussed with management and EY the EY report on our internal controls over financial reporting set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.2023. In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with EY the critical accounting matter included in their report as well as the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and the SEC. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from EY required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding EY’s communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with EY its independence. In addition, the Audit Committee has evaluated and concluded the non-audit services provided by EY to our company comply with SEC independence rules.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to ourthe Board (and ourthe Board approved) that the audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20212023 for filing with the SEC.
The members of the Audit Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting. Members of the Audit Committee rely, without independent verification, on the information provided to them and on the representations made by management and the registered independent public accountants. Accordingly, the Audit Committee’s oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles or appropriate internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee’s considerations and discussions referred to above do not assure that the audit of our financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or that EY is in fact “independent.”“independent”.
Submitted by the Audit Committee:
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Robert Mercer (Chair),
Joseph Murin

Regina Lowrie

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Use of Audit Committee Report
In accordance with and to the extent permitted by applicable law or regulation, the information contained in the foregoing Audit Committee Report is not “soliciting material,” is not deemed to be “filed” with the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act or under the Exchange Act.
Submitted by the Audit Committee:
Robert C. Mercer, Jr., Chairperson
Joseph P. Murin
Sharon L. Cook
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PROPOSAL NO. 3:
RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF EY
On March 10, 2022, ourThe Audit Committee selected the accounting firm of EY to serve as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022.2024. Although current laws, rules and regulations, as well as ourthe Audit Committee charter, require our independent registered public accounting firm to be engaged, retained and supervised by ourthe Audit Committee, ourthe Board considers the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm to be an important matter of stockholder concern and is submitting the appointment of EY for ratification by stockholders as a matter of good corporate practice. EY has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since 2012, prior to our company’s initial public offering.
A representative of EY is expected to be present at the virtual Annual Meeting and will be given the opportunity to make a statement if he or she so desires and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.
OurThe Board recommends that you vote FOR Proposal No. 3.for the ratification of the appointment of EY as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.
Fee Disclosure
The following is a summary of the fees billed to us by EY for professional services rendered for the years ended December 31, 20202023 and 2021.2022.
Year Ended December 31,
Year Ended December 31,
2020
2021
2023
2022
Audit Fees
$923,000
$965,500
$1,057,200
$1,020,000
Audit-Related Fees
Tax Fees
142,000
$157,695
$197,900
$160,000
All Other Fees
Total
$1,065,000
$1,123,195
$1,255,100
$1,180,000
Audit Fees
“Audit Fees” consist of fees and expenses billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the financial statements and internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and review of the interim consolidated financial statements, review of registration statements and the preparation of comfort letters and services that are normally provided by accountants in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
Audit-Related Fees
“Audit-Related Fees” consist of fees and expenses for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements that are not “Audit Fees.”Fees”.
Tax Fees
“Tax Fees” consist of fees and related expenses billed for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. These services include assistance regarding federal and state tax compliance and tax planning and structuring.
All Other Fees
“All Other Fees” consist of fees and expenses for products and services that are not “Audit Fees,”Fees”, “Audit-Related Fees” or “Tax Fees.”Fees”. There were no such fees in 20202022 or 2021.2023.
Pre-Approval Policy
All audit-related, tax and other services provided to us are reviewed and pre-approved by ourthe Audit Committee. OurThe Audit Committee has approved a routine on-call tax advisory services arrangement with EY to provide for ready responses to tax issues from time to time. The engagement provides that no project may exceed $25,000, and the aggregate of all projects may not exceed $100,000 without the further approval of ourthe Audit Committee. OurThe Audit Committee concluded that the provision of such services by EY in 20212023 and 20202022 was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions. All of the fees paid to EY in 20212023 that are described above were approved by ourthe Audit Committee.
OurThe Audit Committee has considered whether, and has determined that, the provision by EY of the services described under “Audit-Related Fees,”Fees”, “Tax Fees” and “All Other Fees” is compatible with maintaining EY’s independence from management and our company.
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PROPOSAL NO. 4:
APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT
Proposed Charter Amendment
The Board has declared advisable and recommends that stockholders approve the Proposed Charter Amendment to remove the Board’s exclusive power to amend the Company’s bylaws and make new bylaws.
Purpose and Effect of the Proposed Charter Amendment
We are committed to good corporate governance and the Board, acting through the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, monitors our corporate governance policies and practices. In April 2023, after careful consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of giving stockholders the power to amend the bylaws, the Board adopted and approved amended and restated bylaws (the “Second Amended and Restated Bylaws”) that, among other things, give stockholders power to amend, repeal and adopt new bylaws, without the approval of the Board. In accordance with the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, a stockholder approved amendment to the bylaws must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
Currently, Section 6.7 of the Company’s charter provides the Board with the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of the bylaws and to make new bylaws. Because the terms of the charter take precedence over the terms of the bylaws, the Proposed Charter Amendment is necessary to remove the Board’s exclusive power to amend the bylaws and, consistent with the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws and our commitment to good corporate governance, give stockholders concurrent power to amend the bylaws, without the approval of the Board.
The Proposed Charter Amendment, if approved by stockholders at the Annual Meeting, will remove from Section 6.7 of the charter the Board’s exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of the bylaws and to make new bylaws. The general description of the Proposed Charter Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Proposed Charter Amendment attached as Annex A to this Proxy Statement.
If the Proposed Charter Amendment is approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, the Proposed Charter Amendment will become effective upon the filing of Articles of Amendment with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation in Maryland (the “SDAT”) and the Board’s exclusive power to amend the bylaws will be removed from the charter. If the Proposed Charter Amendment is not approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, the Articles of Amendment will not be filed with the SDAT and, notwithstanding the terms set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, the Board will continue to have the exclusive power to amend the bylaws.
The Board recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the approval of the Proposed Charter Amendment.
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain ownership information with respect to shares of our common stock for those persons known to us who beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, if any, and all of our directors, each of the named executive officersNEOs and all of the directors and executive officers as a group calculated as of the dates and based on the amounts indicated below. In accordance with SEC rules, each listed person’s beneficial ownership includes:
all shares of common stock the investor actually owns beneficially or of record;
all shares of common stock over which the investor has or shares voting or dispositive control (such as in the capacity as a general partner of a fund); and
all shares of common stock the investor has the right to acquire within 60 days of April 8, 20222024 (such as upon exercise of options that are currently vested or which are scheduled to vest within 60 days).
 
Common Shares Beneficially Owned
Name and Address
Number
Percentage of Outstanding
Common Shares(1)
Directors and Named Executive Officers:(2)
 
 
Jeffrey B. Lown II(3)
74,177
*
Michael A. Hutchby(4)
23,793
*
Julian B. Evans(5)
37,093
*
Joseph P. Murin(6)
36,135
*
Regina Lowrie
17,940
*
Robert C. Mercer, Jr.
24,515
*
All executive officers and directors as a group (6 persons)
213,653
1.3%
We are not aware of any persons who beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common stock as of the date of this Proxy Statement.
 
Common Shares Beneficially Owned
Name and Address
Number
Percentage of
Outstanding
Common Shares(1)
Directors and Named Executive Officers(2)
 
 
Jeffrey B. Lown II(3)
103,708
*
Michael A. Hutchby(4)
36,294
*
Julian B. Evans(5)
50,126
*
Joseph P. Murin(6)
62,226
*
Sharon L. Cook
13,945
*
Robert C. Mercer, Jr.
49,607
*
Directors and executive officers as a group (6 persons)
315,906
1.4%
*
Denotes beneficial ownership of less than 1% of our common stock.
(1)
Based on an aggregate amount of 18,890,71639,019,969 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of April 8, 2022,2024, plus, for any named persons who owns LTIP Units, the number of shares of our common stock that would be outstanding assuming that all LTIP Units beneficially owned by such named person become eligible to be exchanged, and are exchanged, for OPCommon Units that are then exchanged for shares of our common stock.stock in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement of Cherry Hill Operating Partnership, L.P., our operating partnership.
(2)
The address for our executive officers and directors is Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation, 1451 Route 34, Suite 303, Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727.
(3)
Includes 60,413an aggregate of 73,580 shares of our common stock underlying an equal number of vested LTIP Units granted to Mr. Lown. Excludes an aggregate of 39,133 shares of our common stock underlying unvested LTIP Units granted to Mr. Lown on January 3, 2022, January 10, 2023 and January 16, 2024. Unvested LTIP Units vest ratably over a three-year period beginning on the one-year anniversary of the applicable grant date.
(4)
Includes an aggregate of 36,294 shares of our common stock underlying an equal number of vested LTIP Units that were granted to Mr. Lown on October 9, 2013, June 10, 2014, September 9, 2015, June 15, 2016, June 14, 2017, June 13, 2018, January 2, 2019 and April 28, 2020 but excludes 9,000Hutchby. Excludes an aggregate of 35,565 shares of our common stock underlying unvested LTIP Units that were granted to Mr. LownHutchby on January 2, 20193, 2022, January 10, 2023 and January 2, 2020, and that16, 2024. Unvested LTIP Units vest ratably over a three-year period beginning on the one yearone-year anniversary of the applicable grant date.
(4)(5)
Includes 23,793an aggregate of 44,542 shares of our common stock underlying an equal number of vested LTIP Units that were granted to Mr. Hutchby on October 9, 2013, June 10, 2014, September 9, 2015, June 15, 2016, June 14, 2017, June 13, 2018, January 2, 2019 and April 28, 2020 but excludes 12,166Evans. Excludes an aggregate of 34,524 shares of our common stock underlying unvested LTIP Units that were granted to Mr. HutchbyEvans on January 2, 2019,3, 2022, January 2, 202010, 2023 and January 4, 2021, and that16, 2024. Unvested LTIP Units vest ratably over a three-year period beginning on the one year anniversary of the applicable grant date.
(5)
Includes 31,509 shares of our common stock underlying an equal number of vested LTIP Units that were granted to Mr. Evans on October 9, 2013, June 10, 2014, September 9, 2015, June 15, 2016, June 14, 2017, June 13, 2018, January 2, 2019 and April 28, 2020 but excludes 12,632 shares of our common stock underlying unvested LTIP Units that were granted to Mr. Evans on January 2, 2019, January 2, 2020 and January 4, 2021, and that vest ratably over a three-year period beginning on the one yearone-year anniversary of the applicable grant date.
(6)
Includes 2,660 shares of our common stock underlying an equal number of vested LTIP Units that were granted to Mr. Murin on October 9, 2013 and April 28, 2020.Murin.
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DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a)16(A) REPORTS
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and anyone holding 10% or more of a registered class of our equity securities to file reports with the SEC showing their holdings of, and transactions in, these securities. Based solely on a review of copies of such reports we received, we believe that during 2021,2023, all reporting persons known to us filed such reports on a timely basis.
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OTHER INFORMATION
Discretionary Voting Authority
We do not anticipate that any matter other than the proposals set out in this Proxy Statement will be raised at the virtual Annual Meeting. If any other matters are properly presented at the virtual Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies will have discretion to vote on those matters according to their best judgment.
Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for the 20232025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
Requirements for Proposals to be Considered for Inclusion in Proxy Materials
Stockholders interested in submitting a proposal for inclusion in our proxy materials for our 20232025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders may do so by following the procedures prescribed in Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. To be eligible for inclusion in our proxy statement, stockholder proposals must be received no later than December 28, 2022,January 8, 2025, or 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of these materials and must comply with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act regarding the inclusion of stockholder proposals in company-sponsored proxy materials. If we change the date of the 20232025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of this year’s annual meeting, stockholder proposals must be received a reasonable time before we begin to print and mail our proxy materials for the 20232024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Proposals should be mailed to our Secretary at the following address:
c/o Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation,
1451 Route 34, Suite 303,
Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727
Attention: Secretary07727.
Requirements for Proposals Not Intended for Inclusion in Proxy Materials; Director Nominations
Stockholders who wish to nominate persons for election to ourthe Board at the 20232025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or who wish to present a proposal at the 20232025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, but whose stockholder proposal will not be included in our proxy materials for such meeting, or who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees in accordance with the SEC’s new universal proxy rules must deliver written notice of the nomination or proposal to our Secretary no earlier than November 28, 2022,December 9, 2024, the 150th day prior to the anniversary date of these materials, and no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 28, 2022,January 8, 2025, the 120th day prior to the anniversary date of these materials (provided, however, that if the 20232025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of this year’s meeting, nominations and proposals must be received no earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of the 20232025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of (i) the 120th day prior to the date of the 20232025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and (ii) the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the 20232025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is first made). The stockholder’s written notice must include certain information concerning the stockholder and each nominee as specified in our bylaws. In addition to satisfying the requirements set forth in our bylaws, to comply with the SEC’s universal proxy rules, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act. If a stockholder’s written notice is not received between the dates specified above and does not satisfy the additional requirements set forth in our bylaws, the notice will not be considered properly submitted and will not be acted upon at the 20232024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. A stockholder’s written notice should be sent to our Secretary at the following address:
c/o Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation,
1451 Route 34, Suite 303,
Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727
Attention: Secretary
31

07727.
Requests for Annual Report on Form 10-K
A copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021,2023, including the financial statements and the financial statement schedules, may be obtained at our website at www.chmireit.com. If you would like to receive a complimentary copy of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, please submit a written request to:
to Cherry Hill Mortgage Investment Corporation,
1451 Route 34, Suite 303,
Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727,
Attention: Investor RelationsRelations.
Farmingdale, New Jersey
April 27, 2022
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Michael Hutchby
Michael Hutchby,
Secretary
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APPENDIX A
FORM OF PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT
CHERRY HILL MORTGAGE INVESTMENT CORPORATION
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
Cherry Hill Mortgage 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 (the “Charter”) is hereby amended by deleting the second sentence of Section 6.7 of Article VI so that such section of the Charter now reads in its entirety as follows:
Section 6.7 Charter and Bylaws. The rights of all stockholders and the terms of all stock are subject to the provisions of the Charter and the Bylaws.
SECOND: The foregoing amendment to the Charter has been advised by the Board of Directors and approved by the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon.
THIRD: The foregoing amendment to the Charter shall become effective upon acceptance for record by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland.
FOURTH: The undersigned 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 acknowledges that, to the best of such officer’s knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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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 President and Chief Executive Officer and witnessed and attested to by its Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary on this [•] day of [•], 2024.
ATTEST:
CHERRY HILL MORTGAGE INVESTMENT CORPORATION
By:
By:
Name:
Michael Hutchby
Name:
Jeffrey Lown III
Title:
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
Title:
President and Chief Executive Officer
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