Registration No. 333-
As filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on June 20,December
                                    3, 2001
Registration No. 333-_________- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                               -----------------

                                   FORM S-3
                         REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                               -----------------

                         IMPAC MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC.
            (Exact Namename of Registrant as Specifiedspecified in Itsits charter)

                 Maryland                           33-0675505
       (State or other jurisdiction    of                              (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     of incorporation or organization)

                               Identification Number)-----------------

                               1401 Dove Street
                        Newport Beach, California 92660
                                (949) 475-3600
  (Address, including zip code,Including Zip Code, and telephone number, including area code,Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of
                registrant's principal executive offices)


                               Joseph R. Tomkinson
                               Chiefeach Registrant's Principal Executive OfficerOffices)

                               -----------------

                              Ronald M. Morrison
                                General Counsel
                         Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc.
                               1401 Dove Street
                        Newport Beach, California 92660
                                (949) 475-3600
(Name,(name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)

                               Copies to:-----------------

                                   Copy To:
                               Thomas J. Poletti
                              Esq.Katherine J. Blair
                          Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
                     10100 Santa Monica Blvd., 7/th/ Floor
                             Los Angeles, CA 90067
                                Telephone: (310) 552-5000
                               Facsimile: (310) 552-5001

   Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time
to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
   If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.
[_]
   If any of the securities being registered on this formForm are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [x][X]
   If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]
   If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]
   If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box.box: [_]

                               
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE =========================================================================================================== Title of each class of Proposed maximum Proposed maximum securities to be Amount to be offering price per aggregate Amount of registered Registered unit offering price (1) registration fee ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common Stock, $0.01 par value 2,118,644 $6.68 $14,152,541.00 $3,538.14 par share ===========================================================================================================
(1) Estimated solely for----------------- Continued on the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c)next page. Pursuant to rule 429 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and based on the averageprospectus included in this registration statement will also be used in connection with the issuance of the high and low sale prices of thedebt securities, warrants, common stock reported as of June 14, 2001.and preferred stock registered pursuant to Registration Statement No. 333-34137 previously filed by the registrant on Form S-3. The Registrantregistrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrantregistrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission,commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +The information in this prospectus is not completeContinued from previous page. CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEES - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Proposed Proposed Maximum Aggregate Amount of Title Of Each Class Securities To Be Amount to be Offering Price Offering Registration Registered Registered(1) Per Unit(1)(2) Price(1)(2) Fee(3) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common Stock, $.01 par value......... Preferred Stock, $.01 par value...... Senior Notes......................... Subordinated Notes................... Warrants to purchase Common Stock $.01 par value..................... Warrants to purchase Preferred Stock, $.01 par value..................... Total................................ $262,557,850 100% $262,557,850 $62,751.33
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Includes such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and associated preferred stock purchase rights and preferred stock and warrants with respect thereto, and such indeterminate principal amount of senior notes and subordinated notes as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices, and, such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock as may be changed. Weissued upon conversion of, or in exchange for, or upon exercise of warrants or convertible or exchangeable debt securities or preferred stock that provides for exercise or conversion into such securities (including any securities issuable upon stock splits and similar transactions pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act). Also includes an indeterminate amount of shares of common stock as may + +not sell these securities untilfrom time to time be sold at indeterminate prices by the selling stockholders. (2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration statement filed withfee pursuant to Rule 457. (3) Pursuant to Rule 429 under the + +SecuritiesSecurities Act, the Prospectus that forms a part of this Registration Statement, as such prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time, shall also relate to $37,442,150 of aggregate principal amount of debt securities, warrants, common stock, and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an + +offerpreferred stock previously registered pursuant to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these + +securitiesRegistration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-34137, as amended. The Company paid a registration fee of $11,346.09 (calculated at the fee in any state whereeffect at the offer or sale is not permitted. + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++time of filing) in connection therewith. Subject to completion dated June 20,December 3, 2001 2,118,644 SharesPROSPECTUS $300,000,000 IMPAC MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC. COMMON STOCK, This prospectus relatesPREFERRED STOCK, DEBT SECURITIES AND WARRANTS ----------------- Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. may sell to the offer and sale from time to time by Impac Funding Corporation, Inc., a California corporation, (the "selling stockholder"), of up to 2,118,644 shares of our common stock. The selling stockholder will receive all of the proceeds from the sale of thepublic: . common stock less any discounts, commissions or other compensation that it may pay. preferred stock . debt securities . warrants to the underwriters, broker-dealers or other selling agents effecting the sales. We will pay all the costs of registering the common shares under this prospectus. Ourpurchase common stock is traded on. warrants to purchase preferred stock Unless the American Stock Exchange under the symbol "IMH." On June 18, 2001, the last reported sale price for the common stock on the American Stock Exchange was $6.78 per share. ------------- Your purchase of the common stock involves a high degree of risk. See "Risk Factors" beginning at page 1. ------------- Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities offered or sold under this prospectus, nor have these organizations determined that this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. ------------- The date of this prospectus is , 2001. We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or any other person to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information. This prospectus does not offer to sell or seek an offer to buy any shares in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful. The information contained in this prospectus is correct only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of the delivery of this prospectus or any sale of the shares. Certain information contained in this prospectus and the reports incorporated herein constitute forward-looking statements under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology including, but not limited to, "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "should," "anticipate," "estimate," or "believe" or comparable terminology. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Purchasers of our common shares should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus. Table of Contents
Page ---- Summary............................................................. i Risk Factors........................................................ 1 Use of Proceeds..................................................... 15 Selling Security Holder and Plan of Distribution.................... 15 Description of Capital Stock........................................ 16 Material Federal Income Tax Consequences............................ 18 Legal Matters....................................................... 26 Experts............................................................. 26 Where You Can Find More Information................................. 27
SUMMARY We are a mortgage real estate investment trust, commonly known as a REIT, which, together with our subsidiaries and related companies, primarily operates three businesses: (1) our long-term investment operations, (2) our mortgage operations, and (3) our warehouse lending operations. Our long-term investment operations invests primarily in non-conforming residential mortgage loans and securities backed by such loans. Our mortgage operations purchases or originates and sells and securitizes primarily non-conforming residential mortgage loans. Non-conforming residential mortgage loans are residential mortgages that generally do not qualify for purchase by government-sponsored agencies such as the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Our warehouse lending operations provides warehouse and repurchase financing to originators of mortgage loans. We have elected to be taxed as a REIT for federal income tax purposes, which generally allows us to pass through income to stockholders without payment of federal income tax at the corporate level. On February 21, 2001 and March 30, 2001, the selling shareholder purchased a total of 400,000 shares of our Series C 10.5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock from LBP, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: LBPI.OB). The shares offered under this prospectus were issued pursuant to the conversion of the preferred stock. Our principal executive offices are located at1401 Dove Street, Newport Beach, California, 92660. Our telephone number is (949) 475-3600. In this prospectus,context otherwise requires, the terms "Company," "we," "us," and "our" in this prospectus refer to Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc., a Maryland corporation. The term "IFC" or "selling stockholder" refers tocorporation, and its subsidiaries, IMH Assets Corp., and Impac Warehouse Lending Group, Inc. and its affiliate, Impac Funding Corporation a California corporation.(together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries Impac Secured Assets Corp. and Novelle Financial Services, Inc.). Unless the context otherwise indicates, "common stock" refers to the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. i RISK FACTORSand the associated preferred stock purchase rights issued under our rights agreement, as amended, dated October 7, 1998. We will provide specific terms of each issuance of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. Shares of common stock may also be offered by certain selling stockholders pursuant to this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of common stock by selling stockholders. We urge you to read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, which will describe the specific terms of the common stock, the preferred stock, the debt securities and the warrants, carefully before you make your investment decision. Our company, or any selling stockholder, may sell these securities to or through underwriters, dealers or agents, or we may sell the securities directly to investors on our own behalf. Our common stock is listed on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol "IMH." An investment in our common stockthe securities being offered involves significant risks. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 1. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of these securities unless it is accompanied by a high degreeprospectus supplement. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of risk.these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The date of this prospectus is , 2001 The information contained in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. You should considerrely only on the following factors carefully before decidinginformation incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to purchaseprovide you with different information. We are not making or soliciting an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
Table of Contents Page ---- About This Prospectus........................................................................... i Where You Can Find More Information............................................................. ii Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements...................................... iii Risk Factors.................................................................................... 1 Use Of Proceeds................................................................................. 16 Ratio Of Earnings To Fixed Charges And Ratio Of Earnings To Combined Fixed Charges And Preferred Stock Dividends............................................................................... 16 Description Of Securities....................................................................... 16 Description Of Capital Stock.................................................................... 17 Description Of Debt Securities.................................................................. 23 Selling Stockholders............................................................................ 29 Federal Income Tax Considerations............................................................... 29 Plan Of Distribution............................................................................ 37 Legal Matters................................................................................... 38 Experts......................................................................................... 39
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission using a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one of more offerings up to a total dollar amount of proceeds of $300,000,000. Under this shelf process, the selling stockholders also may from time to time offer shares of our common stock. Additional risks not presently knownThis prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we and the selling stockholders may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. That prospectus supplement may include a discussion of any risk factors or other specific considerations applicable to us or that we currently deem immaterialthose securities The prospectus supplement may also impairadd, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information." The registration statement containing this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement, including the exhibits, can be read at the SEC website or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information." i WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION We file reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. Such reports, proxy statements, and other information concerning us can be read and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. The SEC maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information from issuers, including us, that file such documents electronically with the SEC. Our common stock is listed and traded on the American Stock Exchange. These reports, proxy statements and other information are also available for inspection at the offices of the American Stock Exchange, 86 Trinity Place, New York, New York 10006. This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. The full registration statement can be obtained from the SEC as indicated above, or directly from us, as indicated below. The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with the SEC. This permits us to disclose important information to you by referencing these filed documents. Any information referenced this way is considered part of this prospectus, and any information filed with the SEC subsequent to this prospectus will automatically be deemed to update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the following documents which we have filed with the SEC (File No. 0-19861) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), and these documents are incorporated herein by reference: . Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 as filed on March 30, 2001 and as amended by Form 10-K/A filed on October 17, 2001; . Our Definitive Proxy Statement filed April 30, 2001 and amended on May 17, 2001; . Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2001 as filed on May 15, 2001; . Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 as filed on August 14, 2001 and as amended by Form 10-Q/A filed on October 12, 2001; . Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001 as filed on November 14, 2001; . Our Current Reports on Form 8-K dated October 26, 2001, October 24, 2001 and September 5, 2001; and . The description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A, including all amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. We incorporate by reference the documents listed above and any future filings made with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this prospectus until we file a post-effective amendment which indicates the termination of the offering of the securities made by this prospectus. Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished by us but not filed with the SEC pursuant to Item 9 of Form 8-K. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or considered to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be considered to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any subsequently filed document that is or is considered to be incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes the statement. Each statement about the contents of any contracts or other document is qualified in all material respects by reference to such contract or other document. Any statement that is so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. We will provide without charge upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents which are incorporated by reference to this prospectus. You may direct your requests to Investor Relations, Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc., 1401 Dove Street, Suite 100, Newport Beach, CA 92660, or by calling (949) 475-3600. ii CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements contain or incorporate by reference certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements, some of which are based on various assumptions and events that are beyond our control, may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may," "will," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "continue," or similar terms or variations on those terms or the negative of those terms. Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, adverse economic conditions, changes in interest rates, changes in yield curves, changes in prepayment rates, the availability of financing and, if available, the terms of any financing. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see ''Risk Factors" in this prospectus and any accompanying supplements. We do not undertake, and specifically disclaim any obligation, to publicly release the results of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements. The following information may not contain all of the information that is important to you. We encourage you to read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements, as well as the information that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements, in their entireties. You should carefully consider the factors set forth under ''Risk Factors" on page 1 of this prospectus before making an investment decision to purchase our securities. iii SUMMARY You should read the following summary together with the more detailed information regarding our company and the securities we or the selling stockholders may offer in this prospectus, and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. IMPAC MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC. Our company, Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc., is a mortgage real estate investment trust, or "REIT." Together with our subsidiaries and affiliate, Impac Funding Corporation, we are a leading nationwide acquirer and originator of non-conforming Alt-A mortgage loans. "Alt-A" mortgage loans consist primarily of mortgage loans that are first lien mortgage loans made to borrowers whose credit is generally within typical Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac guidelines, but that have loan characteristics that make them non-conforming under those guidelines. For instance, the loans may have higher loan-to-value, or "LTV," ratios than allowable or may have excluded certain documentation or verifications. Therefore, in making our credit decisions, we are more reliant upon the borrower's Fair Issac Credit Score, or "FICO," and the adequacy of the underlying collateral. We also provide warehouse and repurchase financing to originators of mortgage loans. Our goal is to generate consistent reliable income for distribution to our stockholders, primarily from the earnings of our core businesses. We operate three core businesses: our long-term investment operations, our mortgage operations, and our warehouse lending operations. Our long-term investment operations invests primarily in non-conforming Alt-A mortgage loans. This business generates income based on the excess of the interest it earns on its investment portfolio and the expense associated with its borrowings against its investment portfolio. Our investment in non-conforming Alt-A mortgage loans and, to a lesser extent, mortgage-backed securities, is financed with collateralized mortgage obligations, or "CMO," borrowings and proceeds from the sale of capital stock. Our mortgage operations acquires, originates, sells and securitizes primarily non-conforming Alt-A mortgage loans. Our mortgage operations generates income by securitizing and selling loans to permanent investors, including our long-term investment operations. Our mortgage operations primarily uses warehouse lines of credit to finance the acquisition and origination of mortgage loans. Our warehouse operations provides short-term financing to mortgage loan originators by funding mortgage loans from their closing date until they are sold to pre-approved investors, including our long-term investment operations. Our warehouse lending operations earns fees, as well as a spread, from the difference between its cost of borrowings and the interest earned on advances against the loans prior to their sale. Generally, we seek to acquire the non-conforming Alt-A mortgage loans funded with facilities provided by our warehouse lending operations, which provides synergies with our long-term investment operations and mortgage operations. Our principal executive offices are located at 1401 Dove Street, Newport Beach, California 92660. Our telephone number is (949) 475-3600. RISK FACTORS A prolonged economic downturn or recession would adversely affect our operations and financial condition Although we have not operated during a period of prolonged general economic downturn or a recession, these events have historically resulted in a reduction in mortgage origination activity and an increase in the rate of mortgage defaults. The United States economy is currently undergoing a period of slowdown, which some observers view as a recession. This economic condition has been worsened by the September 11, 2001 terrorist 1 attacks in New York, N.Y. and Washington, D.C., and Somerset County, Pennsylvania. A continued economic downturn or recession may have a significant adverse impact on our operations and our financial condition. For example, a reduction in new mortgages will adversely affect our ability to expand our mortgage portfolio, our principal means of increasing our earnings. In addition, a decline in new mortgage activity will likely result in reduced activity for our warehouse lending operations and our long-term investment portfolio operations. In the case of our mortgage operations, a decline in mortgage activity may result in fewer loans that meet its criteria for purchase and securitization, thus resulting in a reduction in interest income and fees and gain on sale of loans. We may also experience larger than previously reported losses on our portfolio due to a higher level of defaults on our mortgage loans. Inability to Generate Liquidity May Adversely Affect Our Operationsgenerate liquidity may adversely affect our operations If we cannot generate sufficient liquidity, we will be unable to continue to grow our operations, grow our asset base, maintain our current hedging policy, and pay dividends. We have traditionally derived our liquidity from threefour sources: . financing facilities provided to us by others to acquire or originate mortgage assets; . whole loan sales and securitizations of acquired or originated mortgage loans; and . our issuance of equity securities. However, weand debt securities; and . earnings from operations. We cannot assure you that any of these alternatives will be available to us, or if available, that we will be able to negotiate favorable terms. Our ability to meet our long-term liquidity requirements is subject to the renewal of our credit and repurchase facilities and/or obtaining other sources of financing, including additional debt or equity from time to time. Any decision by our lenders and/or investors to make additional funds available to us in the future will depend upon a number of factors, such as our compliance with the terms of our existing credit arrangements, our financial performance, industry and market trends in our various businesses, the lenders' and/or investors' own resources and policies concerning loans and investments, and the relative attractiveness of alternative investment or lending opportunities. If we cannot raise cash by selling debt andor equity securities, we may be forced to sell our assets at unfavorable prices or discontinue various business activities. Our inability to access the capital markets could have a negative impact on our earnings and hence, our ability to pay dividends. Margin Callscalls on Financing Facilities May Adversely Affect Our Operationsfinancing facilities may adversely affect our operations Prior to the fourth quarter of 1998, we generally had no difficulty in obtaining favorable financing facilities or in selling acquired mortgage loans. However, during the fourth quarter of 1998, the mortgage industry experienced substantial turmoil as a result of a lack of liquidity in the secondary markets. At that time, investors expressed unwillingness to purchase interests in securitizations due, in part, to: . higher than expected credit losses on many companies'the lack of financing to acquire these securitization interests, andinterests; . the widening of returns expected by institutional investors on securitization interests over the prevailing Treasury rate.rate; and . market uncertainty. As a result, many mortgage loan originators, including our company, were unable to access the securitization market on favorable terms, whichterms. This resulted in some companies declaring bankruptcy. Originators, like our company, were required to sell loans on a whole loan basis and liquidate holdings of mortgage-backed securities to repay financing facilities.short-term borrowings. However, the large amount of loans available for sale on a whole loan basis affected the pricing offered for these loans, which in turn reduced the value of the collateral underlying the financing facilities. Therefore, many providers of financing facilities initiated margin calls. Margin calls resulted 2 when our lenders evaluated the market value of the collateral securing our financing facilities and required us to provide them with additional equity or collateral to secure our borrowings. Our financing facilities were short-term borrowings and due to the turmoil in the mortgage industry during the latter part of 1998 many traditional providers of financing facilities were unwilling to provide facilities on favorable terms, or at all. Our current financing facilities continue to be short-term borrowings and we expect this to continue. If we cannot renew or replace maturing borrowings, we may have to sell, on a whole loan basis, the loans securing these facilities which, depending upon market conditions, may result in substantial losses. 1 Dependence on Securitizationssecuritizations for Liquidityliquidity We rely significantly upon securitizations to generate cash proceeds to repay borrowings and to create credit availability. Any reduction in our ability to complete securitizations may require us to utilize other sources of financing, which, if available at all, may be on less than favorableunfavorable terms. In addition, delays in closing securitizations of our mortgage loans increase our risk by exposing our company to credit risks for this extended period of time. Furthermore, gains on sales from our securitizations represent a significant portion of our earnings. Several factors could affect our ability to complete securitizations of our mortgages, including: . conditions in the securities and secondary markets; . credit quality of the mortgage loans acquired or originated or purchased bythrough our mortgage operations; . volume of our mortgage loan originationsacquisitions and purchases; andoriginations; . our ability to obtain credit enhancement.enhancements; and . lack of investors purchasing higher risk components of the securities. If we are unable to profitably securitize a significant number of our mortgage loans in a particular financial reporting period, then itwe could result inexperience lower income or a loss for that period. As a result of turmoil in the securitization market during the latter part of 1998, many mortgage lenders, including our company, were required to sell mortgage loans on a whole loan basis under adverse market conditions in order to generate liquidity. Many of these sales were made at prices lower than our carrying value of the mortgage loans and we experienced substantial losses. We cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to profitably securitize or sell our loans on a whole loan basis, or at all. Gains on sales from our securitizations have historically represented a substantial portion of our earnings. Our ability to complete securitizations is dependent upon general conditions in the securities and secondary markets and the credit quality of the mortgage loans. In addition, delays in closing sales of our loans increases our risk by increasing the warehousing period for the loans, further exposing our company to credit risk. The market for first loss risk securities, which are securities that take the first loss when mortgages are not paid by the borrowers, is generally limited. In connectionsconnection with our REMIC securitizations, we will endeavor to sell all securities subjecting us to a first loss risk. If we cannot sell these securities, then we may be required to hold them for an extended period, subjecting us to a first loss risk. We May Not Pay Dividends to Stockholders REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code require us to distribute to our stockholders substantially all of our taxable income. These provisions restrict our ability to retain earningsOur borrowings and renew capital for our business activities. Wesubstantial leverage may decide at a future time not to be treated as a REIT, which would cause us to be taxed at the corporate level and to cease paying regular dividends. Also, to date a portion of our dividends to stockholders consisted of distributions by our mortgage operations subsidiary to our long-term investment operations entity. However, our mortgage operations was not, and is not, required under the REIT provisions to make these distributions. Since we are trying to retain earnings for future growth, we may not cause our mortgage operations subsidiary to make these distributions in the future. This would materially affect the amount of dividends, if any, paid by us to our stockholders. 2 Our Borrowings and Substantial Leverage May Cause Losseslosses Risks of Useuse of Collateralized Mortgage Obligationscollateralized mortgage obligations To grow our investment portfolio, we borrow a substantial portion of the market value of substantially all of our investments in mortgage loans and our remaining mortgage-backed securities.securities portfolio. We currently prefer to use collateralized mortgage obligations as financing vehicles to increase our leverage, since mortgage loans held for collateralized mortgage obligation collateral are retained for investment rather than sold in a secondary market transaction. Retaining mortgage loans as collateral for collateralized mortgage obligation collateralobligations exposes our operations to greater credit losses than does the use of other securitization techniques that are treated as sales. In creatingAlthough our liability under a collateralized mortgage obligation is limited to the collateral used to create the collateralized mortgage obligation, we generally are required to make a cash equity investment to fund collateral in excess of the amount of the securities issued. If we experience greater credit losses than expected on the pool of loans 3 subject to the collateralized mortgage obligation, greater than we expected, the value of our equity investment decreaseswill decrease and we would have to adjustincrease the value of the investment inallowance for loan losses on our financial statements. Cost of Borrowings May Exceed Returnborrowings may exceed return on Assetsassets The cost of borrowings under our financing facilities corresponds to a referenced interest rate plus or minus a margin. The margin varies depending on factors such as the nature and liquidity of the underlying collateral and the availability of financing in the market. We will experience net interest losses if the returns on our assets financed with borrowed funds fail to cover the cost of our borrowings.borrowings, and we did not implement any applicable financial hedges. Default Risks Under Financing Facilitiesrisks under financing facilities If we default under our collateralized borrowings,financing facilities, our lenders could force us to liquidate the collateral. If the value of the collateral is less than the amount borrowed, we could be required to pay the difference in cash. If we were to declare bankruptcy, some of our reverse repurchase agreements may obtain special treatment and our creditors would then be allowed to liquidate the collateral without any delay. On the other hand, if a lender with whom we have a reverse repurchase agreement declares bankruptcy, we might experience difficulty repurchasing our collateral, or enforcing our claim for damages, and it is possible that our claim could be repudiated and we could be treated as an unsecured creditor. If this occurs, our claims would be subject to significant delay and we may receive substantially less than our actual damages.damages or nothing at all. Risk of Lacklack of Returnreturn of Investment on Liquidationinvestment upon liquidation We have pledged a substantial portion of our assets to secure the repayment of collateralized mortgage obligations issued in securitizations, our financing facilities orand our other borrowings. We will also pledge substantially all of our current and future mortgage loans to secure borrowings pending their securitization or sale. The cash flows we receive from our investments that have not yet been distributed, pledged or used to acquire mortgage loans or other investments may be the only unpledged assets available to our unsecured creditors and you if our company werewas liquidated. Interest Rate Fluctuations May Adversely Affect Our Operating Resultsrate fluctuations may adversely affect our operating results Our operations, each as a portfolio manager, a mortgage loan acquirer and originator andor a warehouse lender, may be adversely affected by rising and falling interest rates. Higher interest rates may discourage potential borrowers from refinancing mortgages, borrowing to purchase homes or seeking second mortgages. This may decrease the amount of mortgages available to be acquired or originated by our mortgage operations and decrease the demand for warehouse financing 3 provided by our warehouse lending operations to originators of mortgage loans.operations. If short-term interest rates exceed long-term interest rates, there is a higher risk of increased loan prepayments, as borrowers may seek to refinance their fixed and adjustable rate mortgage loans at lower long-term fixed interest rates. Increased loan prepayments could lead to a reduction in the number of loans we service, the fees we receive for loan servicingin our investment portfolio and reduce our loan servicingnet interest income. We are subject to the risk of rising mortgage interest rates between the time we commit to purchase mortgages at a fixed price and the time we sell or securitize those mortgages. An increase in interest rates will generally result in a decrease in the market value of mortgages that we have committed to purchase at a fixed price, but have not yetbeen sold or securitized.securitized or have not been properly hedged. Risks of Repricingrepricing of Assetsassets and Liabilitiesliabilities Our principal source of revenue is net interest income or net interest spread from our investment portfolio, which is the difference between the interest we earn on our interest earning assets and the interest we pay on our interest bearing liabilities. The rates we pay on our borrowings are independent of the rates we earn on our assets 4 and may be subject to more frequent periodic rate adjustments. Therefore, we could experience a decrease in net interest income or a net interest loss because the interest rates on our borrowings could increase faster than the interest rates on our assets. If our net interest spread becomes negative, we will be paying more interest on our borrowings than we will be earning on our assets and we will be exposed to a risk of loss. Additionally, the rates paid on our borrowings and the rates received on our assets may be based upon different indices (i.e.(e.g., LIBOR, U.S. Treasuries, etc.). If the index used to determine the rate on our borrowings increases faster than the index used to determine the rate on our assets, we will experience a declining net interest spread, which will have a negative impact on our profitability, and may result in losses. Risks of Adjustable Rate Mortgagesadjustable rate mortgages A significantsubstantial portion of the mortgage assets held by our long-term investment operations are fixed for a period of time then become adjustable rate mortgages or bear interest based upon short-term interest rate indices. We generally fund these mortgage assets with variable borrowings. To the extent that there is a difference betweenan increase in the interest rate index used to determine the interest rate on our adjustable rate mortgage assetsborrowings and that increase is not covered by our current hedging policy, the net interest margin will decrease or become negative. Interest rate index used to determine the borrowing rate for our related financing, our business may be negatively impacted. Interest Rate Capscaps Adjustable rate mortgages typically have interest rate caps, which limit interest rates charged to the borrower during any given period. Our borrowings are not subject to similar restrictions. InAs a result, in a period of rapidly increasing interest rates, the interest rates we pay on our borrowings could increase without limitation, while the interest rates we earn on our adjustable rate mortgage assets would be capped. If this occurs, our net earnings could be significantly reduced or we could suffer a net interest loss. Payment Caps SomePrepayments of adjustable rate mortgage loans may adversely affect our operations Mortgage prepayments generally increase on our adjustable rate mortgages may be subject to payment caps meaning some portion of the interest accruing on the mortgage is deferred and added to the principal outstanding. Our borrowings do not have similar provisions. This could cause us to receive less cash on our adjustable rate assets than the interest due on our related borrowings. Also, the increased principal amount outstanding as a result of interest deferral may result in a higher rate of defaults on these loans. 4 Our Quarterly Operating Results May Fluctuate Our results of operations, and more specifically our earnings, may significantly fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on several factors, including: . changes in the amount of loans we originate; . between our cost of funds on borrowings and the average interest rates earned on our loans; . inability to complete or decisions not to complete significant bulk whole loan sales or securitizations in a particular quarter; and . generally affecting the mortgage loan industry. A delay in closing a particular mortgage loan sale or securitization would also increase our exposure to interest rate fluctuations by lengthening the period during which our variable rate borrowings under our warehouse facilities are outstanding. If we were unable to sell a sufficient number of mortgage loans at a premium during a particular reporting period, our revenues for that period would decline, which could have a material adverse affect on our operations. As a result, our stock price could also fluctuate. Our Share Prices Have Been and May Continue to be Volatile Historically, the market price of our common stock has been volatile. During 2000, our stock reached a high of $4.38 and a low of $1.83. On June 1, 2001, the closing sale price was $5.75. The market price of our common stock is likely to continue to be highly volatile and could be significantly affected by factors including: . availability of liquidity in the securitization market; . loan sale pricing; . calls by warehouse lenders or changes in warehouse lending rates; . unanticipated fluctuations in our operating results; . prepayments on mortgages; . valuations of securitization related assets; . cost of funds; and . general market conditions. In addition, significant price and volume fluctuations in the stock market have particularly affected the market prices for the common stocks of mortgage REIT companies such as ours. These broad market fluctuations have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect the market price of our common stock. If our results of operations fail to meet the expectations of securities analysts or investors in a future quarter, the market price of our common stock could also be materially adversely affected. Prepayments of Mortgage Loans May Adversely Affect Our Operations Mortgage prepayments generally increase when fixed mortgage interest rates fall below the then-current interest rates on outstanding adjustable rate mortgage loans. Prepayments on mortgage loans are also affected by the terms and credit grades of the loans, conditions in the housing and financial markets and general economic conditions. Most of ourthe adjustable rate mortgages and those backing mortgage-backed securitiesthat we acquire are originated within sixthree months of the time we purchased the 5 mortgages and generally bear initial interest rates whichthat are lower than their "fully-indexed"fully-indexed amount (the applicable index plus the margin). If we acquire these mortgages at a premium and they are prepaid prior to or soon after the time of adjustment to a fully-indexed rate without payment of any prepay penalty, we would not have received interest at the fully-indexed rate during such period.period and we must expense the unamortized premium that was paid for the loan at the time of the prepayment. This means we would lose the opportunity to earn interest at that rate over the expected life of the mortgage. Also, if prepayments on our adjustable rate mortgage loans increase when interest rates are declining, our net interest income may decrease if we cannot reinvest the prepayments in mortgage assets bearing comparable rates. We generally acquire mortgages on a "servicing released" basis, meaning we acquire both the mortgages and the rights to service them. This strategy requires us to pay a higher purchase price or premium for the mortgages. If ourthe mortgage loans that we acquiredacquire at a premium prepay faster than originally projected, generally accepted accounting principles require us to write down the remaining capitalized premium amounts at a faster speed than was originally projected, which would decrease our futurecurrent net interest income. Value of Our Portfolioour portfolio of Mortgage-Backed Securities Maymortgage-backed securities may be Adversely Affected We investadversely affected Prior to 1998, we invested in mortgage-backed securities known as "interest-only," "principal-only,"interest-only, principal-only, residual interest andor other subordinated securities. These securities are generally created through our own securitizations. Investments in residual interest and subordinated securities are much riskier than investments in senior mortgage-backed securities because these subordinated securities bear all credit 5 losses prior to the related senior securities. On a percentage basis, theThe risk associated with holding residual interest and subordinated securities is greater than holding the underlying mortgage loans directly due to the concentration of losses inattributed to the subordinated securities. We estimate future cash flows from these securities and value them utilizing assumptions based in part on projected discount rates, mortgage loan prepayments and credit losses. If our actual experience differs from our assumptions, we would be required to reduce the value of these securities. The market for our asset-backed securities is extremely limited and we cannot assure you that we could sell these securities at their reported value, or at any value or that we could recoup our initial investment. We also bear the risk of loss on any mortgage-backed securities we purchase in the secondary mortgage market. If third parties have been contracted to insure against these types of losses, we would be dependent in part upon the creditworthiness and claims paying ability of the insurer and the timeliness of reimbursement in the event of a default on the underlying obligations. The insurance coverage for various types of losses is limited, and we bear the risk of any losses in excess of the limitation or outside of the insurance coverage. In addition, we may not obtain our anticipated yield or we may incur losses if the credit support available within certain mortgage-backed securities is inadequate due to unanticipated levels of losses, or due to difficulties experienced by the credit support provider. Delays or difficulties encountered in servicing the mortgages in mortgage-backed securities may cause greater losses and, therefore, greater resort to credit support than was originally anticipated, and may cause a rating agency to downgrade certain classes of our securities.mortgage-backed securities, which might then equate to a reduction of the value of the security. We Undertake Additional Risksundertake additional risks by Acquiringacquiring and Investinginvesting in Mortgage Loansmortgage loans Risk of Failurefailure to Obtain Credit Enhancementsobtain credit enhancements We do not obtain credit enhancements such as mortgage pool or special hazard insurance for all of our mortgage loans and investments. Borrowers may obtain privateGenerally, we require mortgage insurance but we only require this insurance in limited circumstances.on any loan with a loan-to-value ratio greater than 80%. During the time we hold mortgage loans for investment, we are subject to 6 risks of borrower defaults and bankruptcies and special hazard losses that are not covered by standard hazard insurance. If a borrower defaults on a mortgage loan that we hold, we bear the risk of loss of principal to the extent there is any deficiency between the value of the related mortgaged property and the amount owing on the mortgage loan.loan and any insurance proceeds available to us through the mortgage insurer. In addition, since defaulted mortgage loans, which under our financing arrangements are notmortgage loans that are generally 60 to 90 days delinquent in payments, may be considered eligibleineligible collateral under our borrowing arrangements, we could bear the risk of being required to own these loans without the use of borrowed funds until they are ultimately liquidated.liquidated or possibly sold at a loss. Greater Risksrisks from Non-Conforming Mortgage Loans Non-conformingnon-conforming Alt-A mortgage loans We are an acquirer and originator of non-conforming Alt-A residential mortgage loansloans. These are residential mortgages that do not qualify for purchase by government sponsored agencies such as the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Our operations may be negatively affected due to our investments in non- conforming loans or securities evidencing interests in suchnon-conforming Alt-A mortgage loans. Credit risks associated with non-conforming Alt-A mortgage loans are greater than conforming mortgage loans. The interest rates we charge on non-conforming Alt-A loans are often higher than those charged for conforming loans. The purchase market of non-conforming loans has typically provided for higher interest rates in order to compensate for the higher risk and lower liquidity. Due to the lower level of liquidity in the non-conforming loan market, we may realize higher returns upon securitization of loans than would be realized upon securitization of conforming loans. However, lowerLower levels of liquidity may cause us to hold loans or other mortgage-related assets supported by these loans.loans that we otherwise would not hold. By doing this, we assume the potential risk of increased delinquency rates and/or credit losses as well as interest rate risk. Additionally, the combination of different underwriting criteria and higher rates of interest leads to greater risk, including higher prepayment rates and higher delinquency rates and/or credit losses. Risks related to lending to non-conforming Alt-A borrowers As a lender of non-conforming Alt-A mortgage loans, our market includes borrowers who may be unable to obtain mortgage financing from conventional mortgage sources. Loans made to such non-conforming Alt-A borrowers generally entail a higher risk of delinquency and higher losses than loans made to borrowers who utilize conventional mortgage sources. Delinquency, foreclosures and losses generally increase during economic 6 slowdowns or recessions. The actual risk of delinquencies, foreclosures and losses on loans made to non-conforming Alt-A borrowers could be higher under adverse economic conditions than those currently experienced in the mortgage lending industry in general. Further, any material decline in real estate values increases the loan-to-value ratios of loans previously made by us, thereby weakening collateral coverage and increasing the possibility of a loss in the event of a borrower default. Any sustained period of increased delinquencies, foreclosures or losses after the loans are sold could adversely affect the pricing of our future loan sales and our ability to sell or securitize our loans in the future. In the past, certain of these factors have caused revenues and net income of many participants in the mortgage industry, including us, to fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Second Mortgages Entail Greater Risksmortgages entail greater risks Our security interest in the property securing second mortgages is subordinated to the interest of the first mortgage holder.holder and the second mortgages have a higher cumulative loan-to-value ratio. If the value of the property is equal to or less than the amount needed to repay the borrower's obligation to the first mortgage holder upon foreclosure, all or a portion of our second mortgage loan will not be repaid. Geographic Concentrationconcentration of Mortgage Loans Has Higher Risksmortgage loans has higher risks We do not set limitations on the percentage of our mortgage asset portfolio composed of properties located in any one area (whether by state, zip code or other geographic measure). Concentration in any one area increases our exposure to the economic and natural hazard risks associated with that area. We estimate that a high concentration of the loans included in securitizations in which we hold subordinatedresidual interests are secured by properties in California.California and Florida. Certain parts of California and Florida have experienced an economic downturn in past years and have suffered in the past the effects of certain natural hazards. Potential Losses Relatedlosses related to Recourse Obligationsrecourse obligations Mortgage-backed securities issued in connection with our securitizations have been non-recourse to us, except in the case of a breach of standard representations and warranties made by us when the loans are securitized. While we have recourse against our customers, the correspondent sellers and mortgage brokers of mortgage loans, we cannot assure you that they will honor their obligations. We also engagedengage in bulk whole loan sales pursuant to agreements that provide for recourse by the purchaser against us. In some cases, the remedies available to a purchaser of mortgage loans from us are broader than those available to us against those who sell us these loans. If a purchaser exercises its rights against us, we may not always be able to enforce whatever remedies we may have against our sellers.customers. Risks related to representations and warranties in loan sales and securitizations In connection with our securitizations, we transfer loans acquired or originated by us into a trust in exchange for cash and, in the case of a CMO, residual certificates issued by the trust. The trustee will have recourse to us with respect to the breach of the standard representations and warranties made by us at the time such loans are transferred. While we generally have recourse to our customers for any such breaches, there can be no assurance of our customers' abilities to honor their respective obligations. Also, we engage in bulk whole loan sales pursuant to agreements that generally provide for recourse by the purchaser against us in the event of a breach of one of our representations or warranties, any fraud or misrepresentation during the mortgage loan origination process, or upon early default on such mortgage loan. We generally limit the potential remedies of such purchasers to the potential remedies we receive from the people from whom we acquired or originated the mortgage loans. However, in some cases, the remedies available to a purchaser of mortgage loans from us may be broader than those available to us against the sellers of the loans and should a purchaser enforce its remedies against us, we may not always be able to enforce whatever remedies we have against our customers. In the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to claims made against us by borrowers and trustees in our securitizations arising from, among other things, losses that are claimed to have been incurred as a result of 7 alleged breaches of fiduciary obligations, misrepresentations, errors and omissions of our employees, officers and agents (including our appraisers), incomplete documentation and our failure to comply with various laws and regulations applicable to our business. Any claims asserted against us may result in legal expenses or liabilities that could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. We Undertake Additional Risksface risks related to our use of IDASL We utilize the Internet in Providing Warehouse Financingour business principally for the implementation of our automated loan origination program, IDASL. IDASL may be interrupted if the Internet experiences periods of poor performance, if our computer systems or the systems of our third-party service providers contain defects, or if customers are reluctant to use or have inadequate connectivity to the Internet. Increased government regulation of the Internet could also adversely affect our use of the Internet in unanticipated ways and discourage our customers from using our services. If our ability to use the Internet in providing our services is impaired, our ability to originate or acquire loans on an automated basis could be delayed or reduced. Any substantial delay and reduction in our mortgage loan acquisitions and originations will reduce our net earnings for the applicable period. We are subject to risks of operational failure that are beyond our control Substantially all of our operations are located in Newport Beach, California. Our systems and operations are vulnerable to damage and interruption from fire, flood, telecommunications failure, break-ins, earthquake and similar events. Our operations may also be interrupted by power disruptions, including rolling black-outs implemented in California due to the state's continuing acute power shortage. We do not maintain alternative power sources. Furthermore, our security mechanisms may be inadequate to prevent security breaches to our computer systems, including from computer viruses, electronic break-ins and similar disruptions. Such security breaches or operational failures could expose us to liability, impair our operations, result in losses, and harm our reputation. We rely on third-party software for the implementation of IDASL We have a licensing agreement with a third-party vendor for the use of hardware and software for IDASL. Substantially all of our correspondents are submitting loans through IDASL and 100% of all of our wholesale loans delivered by brokers are directly underwritten through the use of IDASL. The termination or impairment of this license could result in delays and reductions in the acquisition and origination of mortgage loans until equivalent hardware and software could be licensed and integrated, if at all possible, which may harm our business. In addition, we would be harmed if the provider from whom we license software ceases to deliver and support reliable products, enhance their current products or respond to emerging industry standards. If the hardware or software provided by our vendor fails for any reason, and the back-up hardware and software is not implemented in a timely manner, it may also delay and reduce those mortgage loan acquisitions and originations done through IDASL. The third-party hardware and software also may not continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Any substantial delay and reduction in our mortgage loan acquisitions and originations will reduce our net earnings for the applicable period. Intense competition for mortgage loans may adversely affect our operations We compete in acquiring and originating non-conforming Alt-A mortgage loans and issuing mortgage-backed securities with: . other mortgage conduit programs; . investment banking firms; . savings and loan associations; . banks; . thrift and loan associations; 8 . finance companies; . mortgage bankers; . insurance companies; . other lenders; and . other entities purchasing mortgage assets. Some of our competitors are larger and have greater resources than we do. Consolidation in the mortgage banking industry may adversely affect us by reducing the number of current customers of our mortgage operations and our potential customer base. As a result, we may have to purchase a larger percentage of mortgage loans from a smaller number of customers, which may reduce our profit margins, or increase the cost to acquire these types of loans. We undertake additional risks in providing warehouse financing As a warehouse lender, we lend money to mortgage bankers on a secured basis and we are subject to the risks associated with lending to mortgage banks, including the risks of fraud, borrower default and bankruptcy, any of which could result in credit losses for us. Our claims as a secured lender in a bankruptcy proceeding may be subject to adjustment and delay. ValueWe may not pay dividends to stockholders REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code generally require us to distribute to our stockholders at least 90% of all of our Mortgage Servicing Rights is Subjecttaxable income. These provisions restrict our ability to Adjustment When we purchase loans that includeretain earnings and thereby renew capital for our business activities. We may decide at a future time not to be treated as a REIT, which would cause us to be taxed at the associated servicing rights, the allocated cost of the servicing rights is reflected on our financial statements as mortgage servicing rights. To determine the fair value of these servicing rights, we use assumptionscorporate level and to estimate future net servicing income including projected discount rates, mortgage loan prepayments and credit losses. If actual prepayments or defaults with respectcease paying regular dividends. Also, to loans serviced occur more quickly than we originally assumed, we would have to reduce the carrying valuedate, a portion of our mortgage servicing rights. We do not know if our assumptions will prove correct. Our Operating Results Will be Affectedtaxable income consists of distributions by the Results of Our Hedging Activities To offset the risks associated with our mortgage operations we enter into transactions designedsubsidiary to hedge our interest rate risks. To offset the risks associated with our long-term investment operations we attempt to match the interest rate sensitivities of our adjustable rate mortgage assets held for investment with the associated financing liabilities. Our management determines the nature and quantity of the hedging transactions based on various factors, including market conditions and the expected volume of mortgage loan purchases. We do not limit management's use of certain instruments in such hedging transactions. While the Company believes that it is properly hedging its interest rate risk, the accounting for such hedging activities do not generally qualify for hedge accounting under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and FAS 133. The effect of the Company's hedging strategy may result in some volatility in its quarterly earnings as interest rates go up or down. The volatility in earning is a result of the Company marking to market its hedges but not being allowed to mark to market the underlying loans related to the hedges in place. While the Company believes it is properly hedging its interest rate risk, we cannot assure you that our hedging transactions will offset our risks of losses. Reduction in Demand for Residential Mortgage Loans and Our Non-Conforming Loan Products May Adversely Affect Our Operations The availability of sufficient mortgage loans meeting our criteria is dependent in part upon the size and level of activity in the residential real estate lending market and, in particular, the demand for non-conforming mortgage loans, which is affected by: . interest rates; . national economic conditions; . residential property values; and . regulatory and tax developments. If our mortgage loan purchases decrease, we will have: . decreased economies of scale; . higher origination costs per loan; 8 . reduced fee income; . smaller gains on the sale of non-conforming mortgage loans; and . an insufficient volume of loans to effect securitizations which requires us to accumulate loans over a longer period. Our Delinquency Ratios and Our Performance May be Adversely Affected by the Performance of Parties Who Sub-Service our Loans We contract with third-party sub-servicers for the sub-servicing of all our loans, including those in our securitizations, and our operations are subject to risks associated with inadequate or untimely servicing. Poor performance by a sub-servicer may result in greater than expected delinquencies and losses on our loans. A substantial increase in our delinquency or foreclosure rate could adversely affect our ability to access the capital and secondary markets for our financing needs. Also, with respect to loans subject to a securitization, greater delinquencies would adversely impact the value of any interest-only, principal-only and subordinated securities we hold in connection with that securitization. In a securitization, relevant agreements permit us to be terminated as servicer under specific conditions described in these agreements, such as the failure of a sub-servicer to perform certain functions within specific time periods. If, as a result of a sub-servicer's failure to perform adequately, we were terminated as servicer of a securitization, the value of any servicing rights held by us would be adversely affected. Intense Competition for Mortgage Loans May Adversely Affect Our Operations We compete in purchasing non-conforming mortgage loans and issuing mortgage- backed securities with: . other mortgage conduit programs; . investment banking firms; . savings and loan associations; . banks; . thrift and loan associations; . finance companies; . mortgage bankers; . insurance companies; . other lenders; and . other entities purchasing mortgage assets. Consolidation in the mortgage banking industry may adversely affect us by reducing the number of current sellers toentity. However, our mortgage operations were not, and our potential customer base. As a result,are not, required under the REIT provisions to make these distributions. Since we are trying to retain earnings for future growth, we may havenot cause our mortgage operations subsidiary to purchase a larger percentagemake these distributions in the future. This would materially affect the amount of mortgage loans from a smaller numbertaxable income generated by us and the amount of customers, which could causedividends required to be paid by us to our stockholders. Due to losses incurred in 2000, we did not declare any dividends from September 2000 until September 25, 2001. To the extent we do not generate any taxable income, we would not be required to declare and pay dividends to maintain REIT status. Potential alternative minimum tax liability To the extent we have a net operating loss carryover for federal income tax purposes, we can offset our regular taxable income for the 2001 taxable year with the net operating loss carryover and thereby eliminate our liability for regular corporate income tax on the amount of income so offset. In computing alternative minimum tax, however, we will be allowed to pay higher premiumsuse only 90% of the net operating loss deduction allowable for loans.purposes of computing the regular income tax. Thus, to the extent we shelter our income with the net operating loss carryover deduction, we will be subject to alternative minimum tax at a rate of 20% on 10% of the income offset by the net operating loss for regular tax purposes. In other words, the effective federal income tax rate on the amount offset by the net operating loss deduction is 2%. 9 If We Failwe fail to Maintain Ourmaintain our REIT Status We Maystatus, we may be Subjectsubject to Taxationtaxation as a Regular Corporation Consequences if We Fail to Qualify as a REITregular corporation We believe that we have operated and intend to continue to operate in a manner that enables us to meet the requirements for qualification as a REIT for Federalfederal income tax purposes. We have not requested, and do not plan to request, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that we qualify as a REIT. Moreover, no assurance can be given that legislation, new regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions will not significantly change the tax laws with respect to qualification as a REIT or the federal income tax consequences of such qualification. Our continued qualification as a REIT will depend on our satisfaction of certain asset, income, organizational and stockholder ownership requirements on a continuing basis. If we fail to qualify as a REIT, we would not be allowed a deduction for distributions to stockholders in computing our taxable income and would be subject to Federalfederal income tax at regular corporate rates. We also couldmay be subject to the Federalfederal alternative minimum tax. Unless we are entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we could not elect to be taxed as a REIT for four taxable years following the year during which we were disqualified. Therefore, if we lose our REIT status, the funds available for distribution to you would be reduced substantially for each of the years involved. Failure to qualify as a REIT could adversely affect the value of our common stock. Effect of Distribution Requirementsdistribution requirements As a REIT, we are subject to annual distribution requirements, which limit the amount of cash we have available for other business purposes, including amounts to fund our growth. Other Tax Liabilitiestax liabilities Even if we qualify as a REIT, we may be subject to certain Federal,federal, state, and local taxes on our income, property and operations that could reduce operating cash flow. Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate Our results of operations, and more specifically our earnings, may significantly fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on several factors, including: . changes in the amount of mortgage loans we acquire or originate; . differences between our cost of funds on borrowings and the average interest rates earned on our mortgage loans; . our inability to complete, or decisions not to complete, significant bulk whole loan sales or securitizations in a particular quarter; and . problems generally affecting the mortgage loan industry. A delay in closing a particular mortgage loan sale or securitization would also increase our exposure to interest rate fluctuations by lengthening the period during which our variable rate borrowings under our warehouse facilities are outstanding. If we were unable to sell a sufficient number of mortgage loans at a premium during a particular reporting period, our revenues for that period would decline, which could have a material adverse affect on our operations. As a result, our stock price could also fluctuate. Our share prices have been and may continue to be volatile Historically, the market price of our common stock has been volatile. During 2000, our stock reached a high of $4.38 per share and a low of $1.83 per share. For the first nine months of 2001, our common stock reached a 10 high of $8.15 per share and a low of $2.85 per share. The market price of our common stock is likely to continue to be highly volatile and could be significantly affected by factors including: . the amount of dividends paid; . availability of liquidity in the securitization market; . loan sale pricing; . calls by warehouse lenders or changes in warehouse lending rates; . unanticipated fluctuations in our operating results; . prepayments on mortgages; . valuations of securitization related assets; . cost of funds; and . general market conditions. In addition, significant price and volume fluctuations in the stock market have particularly affected the market prices for the common stock of mortgage REIT companies such as ours. These broad market fluctuations have adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect the market price of our common stock. If our results of operations fail to meet the expectations of securities analysts or investors in a future quarter, the market price of our common stock could also be materially adversely affected. Value of our mortgage servicing rights is subject to adjustment When we purchase loans that include the associated servicing rights, the allocated cost of the servicing rights is reflected on our financial statements as mortgage servicing rights. To determine the fair value of these servicing rights, we use assumptions to estimate future net servicing income including projected discount rates, mortgage loan prepayments and credit losses. If actual prepayments or defaults with respect to loans serviced occur more quickly than we originally assumed, we would have to reduce the carrying value of our mortgage servicing rights. We do not know if our assumptions will prove correct. Our operating results will be affected by the results of our hedging activities To offset the risks associated with our mortgage operations, we enter into transactions designed to hedge our interest rate risks. To offset the risks associated with our long-term investment operations, we attempt to match the interest rate sensitivities of our adjustable rate mortgage assets held for investment with the associated financing liabilities. Our management determines the nature and quantity of the hedging transactions based on various factors, including market conditions and the expected volume of mortgage loan purchases. We do not limit management's use of certain instruments in such hedging transactions. While the Company believes that it is properly hedging its interest rate risk, the accounting for such hedging activities may not, and in some cases do not, qualify for hedge accounting under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and FAS 133. The effect of the Company's hedging strategy may result in some volatility in its quarterly earnings as interest rates go up or down. While the Company believes it is properly hedging its interest rate risk, we cannot assure you that our hedging transactions will offset the risk of adverse changes in net interest margins. 11 Reduction in demand for residential mortgage loans and our non-conforming loan products may adversely affect our operations The availability of sufficient mortgage loans meeting our criteria is dependent in part upon the size and level of activity in the residential real estate lending market and, in particular, the demand for non-conforming mortgage loans, which is affected by: . interest rates; . national economic conditions; . residential property values; and . regulatory and tax developments. If our mortgage loan purchases decrease, we will have: . decreased economies of scale; . higher origination costs per loan; . reduced fee income; . smaller gains on the sale of non-conforming mortgage loans; and . an insufficient volume of loans to generate securitizations which thereby causes us to accumulate loans over a longer period. Our delinquency ratios and our performance may be adversely affected by the performance of parties who sub-service our loans We contract with third-party sub-servicers for the sub-servicing of all the loans in which we retain servicing rights, including those in our securitizations. Our operations are subject to risks associated with inadequate or untimely servicing. Poor performance by a sub-servicer may result in greater than expected delinquencies and losses on our loans. A substantial increase in our delinquency or foreclosure rate could adversely affect our ability to access the capital and secondary markets for our financing needs. Also, with respect to loans subject to a securitization, greater delinquencies would adversely impact the value of any interest-only, principal-only and subordinated securities we hold in connection with that securitization. In a securitization, relevant agreements permit us to be terminated as servicer or master servicer under specific conditions described in these agreements, such as the failure of a sub-servicer to perform certain functions within specific time periods. If, as a result of a sub-servicer's failure to perform adequately, we were terminated as servicer of a securitization, the value of any servicing rights held by us would be adversely affected. Recent Developmentsdevelopments The Tax Relief Extension Act of 1999 was enacted and it contains several tax provisions regarding REITs. It includes a provision, which reduces the annual distribution requirement for REIT taxable income from 95% to 90%. It also changes the 10% voting securities test under current law to a 10% vote or value test. Thus, subject to certain exceptions, a REIT will no longer be allowed to own more than 10% of the vote or value of the outstanding securities of any issuer, other than a qualified REIT subsidiary or another REIT. One exception to this new test, which is also an exception to the 5% asset test under current law, allows a REIT to own any or all of the securities of a taxable REIT subsidiary. A taxable REIT subsidiary can perform non-customary services as well as engage in non-real estate activities. A taxable REIT subsidiary will be taxed as a regular C corporation but will be subject to earnings stripping limitations on the deductibility of interest paid to its REIT. In addition, the REIT will be subject to a 100% excise tax to the extent any transaction between the taxable REIT subsidiary and the REIT is not conducted on an arm's length basis. Securities of a taxable REIT subsidiary will constitute 12 non-real-estate assets for purposes of determining whether at least 75% of a REIT's assets consist of real estate assets. In addition, no more thatthan 20% of a REIT's total assets can consist of securities of taxable REIT subsidiaries. These new tax provisions became effective January 1, 2001. In addition, grandfather protection is provided with respect to the 10% value test for securities of a corporation held by a REIT on July 12, 1999, but such protection ceases to apply after the corporation engages in a substantial new line of business or acquires 10 any substantial asset and also ceases to apply after the acquisition of additional securities of the corporation by the REIT after July 12, 1999. Because we currently own more than 10% of the value of IFC, we have made an election to have IFC become a taxable REIT subsidiary as of January 1, 2001. Potential Characterizationcharacterization of Distributionsdistributions or Gaingain on Salesale as Unrelated Business Taxable Incomeunrelated business taxable income to Tax-Exempt Investorstax-exempt investors If (1) all or a portion of our assets are subject to the rules relating to taxable mortgage pools, (2) we are a "pension-held REIT," (3) a tax-exempt stockholder has incurred debt to purchase or hold our common stock, or (4) the residual REMIC interests we buy generate "excess inclusion income," then a portion of the distributions to and, in the case of a stockholder described in (3), gains realized on the sale of common stock by, such tax-exempt stockholder may be subject to Federal income tax as unrelated business taxable income under the Internal Revenue Code. Classification as a Taxable Mortgage Pool Could Subject Ustaxable mortgage pool could subject us to Increased Taxationincreased taxation If we have borrowings with two or more maturities and, (1) those borrowings are secured by mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities and, (2) the payments made on the borrowings are related to the payments received on the underlying assets, then the borrowings and the pool of mortgage loans or mortgage backed securities to which such borrowings relate may be classified as a taxable mortgage pool under the Internal Revenue Code. If any part of our company were to be treated as a taxable mortgage pool, then our REIT status would not be impaired, but a portion of the taxable income we recognize may, under regulations to be issued by the Treasury Department, be characterized as "excess inclusion" income and allocated among our stockholders to the extent of and generally in proportion to the distributions we make to each stockholder. Any excess inclusion income would: . not be allowed to be offset by a stockholder's net operating losses; . be subject to a tax as unrelated business income if a stockholder were a tax-exempt stockholder; . be subject to the application of federal income tax withholding at the maximum rate (without reduction for any otherwise applicable income tax treaty) with respect to amounts allocable to foreign stockholders; and . be taxable (at the highest corporate tax rate) to us, rather than to our stockholders, to the extent the excess inclusion income relates to stock held by disqualified organizations (generally, tax-exempt companies not subject to tax on unrelated business income, including governmental organizations). Based on advice of our tax counsel, we take the position that our existing financing arrangements do not create a taxable mortgage pool. However, the IRSOur operations may successfully maintain that our financing arrangements do qualify as a taxable mortgage pool. In addition,be adversely affected if we may enter into arrangements creating excess inclusion income in the future. Our Operations May be Adversely Affected if We are Subjectsubject to the Investment Company Act We intend to conduct our business at all times so as not to become regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. The Investment Company Act exempts entities that are primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate. 11 In order to qualify for this exemption we must maintain at least 55% of our assets directly in mortgage loans, qualifying pass-through certificates and certain other qualifying interests in real estate. Our ownership of 13 certain mortgage assets may be limited by the provisions of the Investment Company Act. If the Securities and Exchange Commission adopts a contrary interpretation with respect to these securities or otherwise believes we do not satisfy the above exception, we could be required to restructure our activities or sell certain of our assets. To insure that we continue to qualify for the exemption we may be required at times to adopt less efficient methods of financing certain of our mortgage assets and we may be precluded from acquiring certain types of higher-yielding mortgage assets. The net effect of these factors will be to lower at times our net interest income. If we fail to qualify for exemption from registration as an investment company, our ability to use leverage would be substantially reduced, and we would not be able to conduct our business as described. Our business will be materially and adversely affected if we fail to qualify for this exemption. Future Revisionsrevisions in Policiespolicies and Strategiesstrategies made at the Discretiondiscretion of Our Boardour board of Directors Maydirectors may be Affected Without Stockholder Consentaffected without stockholder consent Our board of directors, including a majority of our unaffiliated directors, has established our investment and operating policies and strategies. We may: . invest in the securities of other REITs for the purpose of exercising control; . issue securities in exchange for property; and . repurchase or otherwise reacquire our shares or other securities in the future. In October 1998, we adopted a repurchase plan to repurchase up to $5.0 million of our common stock in the open market. In 1999, the board of directors approved common stock repurchases up to an additional $5.0 million, or a total of $10.0 million. During 1999, we repurchased 2.0 million shares of our common stock for $9.9 million. During 2000, we adopted a repurchase plan to repurchase up to $3.0 million of our common stock in the open market. As of December 31, 2000, we had repurchased 991,000 shares for $2.3 million. We may also underwrite the securities of other issuers, although we have no present intention to do so. Any of the policies, strategies and activities may be modified or waived by our board of directors, subject in certain cases to approval by a majority of our unaffiliated directors, without stockholder consent. Effect of Future Offerings May Adversely Affect Market Pricefuture offerings may adversely affect market price of Our Securitiesour securities We may elect to increase our capital resources by making additional private or public offerings of securities in the future. We do not know: . the actual or perceived effect of these offerings; . the timing of these offerings; . the dilution of the book value or earnings per share of our securities then outstanding; and . the effect on the market price of our securities then outstanding. Risk Relatingrelating to Common Stockcommon stock The sale or the proposed sale of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market could materially adversely affect the market price of our common stock or other outstanding securities. 12 Maryland Business Combination Statute The Maryland General Corporation Law establishes special requirements for "business combinations" between a Maryland corporation and "interested stockholders" unless exemptions are applicable. An interested stockholder is any person who beneficially owns 10% or morePossible adverse consequences of the voting powerlimits on ownership of our then- outstanding voting stock. Among other things, the law prohibits for a period of five years a merger and other similar transactions between our company and an interested stockholder unless the board of directors approved the transaction prior to the party becoming an interested stockholder. The five- year period runs from the most recent date on which the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder. The law also requires a supermajority stockholder vote for such transactions after the end of the five-year period. This means that the transaction must be approved by at least: . 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares . 66% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom the business combination is to be effected. The business combination statute could have the effect of discouraging offers to acquire us and of increasing the difficulty of consummating any such offers, even if our acquisition would be in our stockholders' best interests. Maryland Control Share Acquisition Statute Maryland law provides that "control shares" of a Maryland corporation acquired in a "control share acquisition" have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a stockholder vote. Two-thirds of the shares eligible to vote must vote in favor of granting the "control shares" voting rights. "Control shares" are shares of stock that, taken together with all other shares of stock the acquirer previously acquired, would entitle the acquirer to exercise at least 10% of the voting power in electing directors. Control shares do not include shares of stock the acquiring person is entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A "control share acquisition" means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions. If a person who has made (or proposes to make) a control share acquisition satisfies certain conditions (including agreeing to pay expenses), he may compel our board of directors to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days to consider the voting rights of the shares. If such a person makes no request for a meeting, we have the option to present the question at any stockholders' meeting. If voting rights are not approved at a meeting of stockholders then we may redeem any or all of the control shares (except those for which voting rights have previously been approved) for fair value. We will determine the fair value of the shares, without regard to voting rights, as of the date of either: . the last control share acquisition, or . the meeting where stockholders considered and did not approve voting rights of the control shares. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders' meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. This means that you would be able to force us to redeem your stock for fair value. Under Maryland law, the fair value may not be less than the highest price per share paid in the control share acquisition. Furthermore, certain limitations otherwise applicable to the exercise of dissenters' rights would not apply in the context of a control share acquisition. The control share acquisition statute would not apply to shares acquired in a merger, 13 consolidation or share exchange if we were a party to the transaction. The control share acquisition statute could have the effect of discouraging offers to acquire us and of increasing the difficulty of consummating any such offers, even if our acquisition would be in our stockholders' best interests. Possible Adverse Consequences of Limits on Ownership of Shares Our charter limits ownership of our capital stock by any single stockholder to 9.5% of our outstanding shares.shares unless waived by the board of directors. Our board of directors may increase the 9.5% ownership limit. In addition, to the extent consistent with the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, our board of directors may, pursuant to our articles of incorporation, waive the 9.5% ownership limit for a stockholder or purchaser of our stock. In order to waive the 9.5% ownership limit our board of directors must require the stockholder 14 requesting the waiver to provide certain representations to the Company to ensure compliance with the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Our charter also prohibits anyone from buying shares if the purchase would result in us losing our REIT status. This could happen if a share transaction results in fewer than 100 persons owning all of our shares or in five or fewer persons, applying certain broad attribution rules of the Internal Revenue Code, owning more than 50% (by value) of our shares. If you or anyone else acquires shares in excess of the ownership limit or in violation of the ownership requirements of the Internal Revenue Code for REITs, we: . will consider the transfer to be null and void; . will not reflect the transaction on our books; . may institute legal action to enjoin the transaction; . will not pay dividends or other distributions with respect to those shares; . will not recognize any voting rights for those shares; . we may redeem the shares; and . will consider the shares held in trust for the benefit of our Company; and . will either direct the affected person toa charitable beneficiary as designated by us. The trustee shall sell the shares held in trust and turn over any profit to us, or . we will redeem the shares. If we redeemowner of the excess shares it will be at a price equalentitled to the lesser of: (a) the price paid by the transfereeowner; (b) if the owner did not purchase for the excess shares, the closing price for the shares on the national securities exchange on which the company is listed; or (c) the price received by the trustee from the sale of the shares, or (b) the average of the last reported sales prices on the American Stock Exchange on the ten trading days immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption by our board of directors.shares. An individual who acquires shares that violate the above rules bears the risk that (1) he may lose control over the power to dispose of his shares, (2) he may not recognize profit from the sale of his shares if the market price of the shares increases, and (3) he may be required to recognize a loss from the sale of his shares if the market price decreases.decreases, (4) he may not receive dividends declared and (5) he may not be able to vote the shares. Limitations on Acquisitionacquisition and Changechange in Control Ownership Limitcontrol ownership limit The 9.5% ownership limit discussed above may have the effect of precluding acquisition of control of our company by a third party without consent of our board of directors. 1415 USE OF PROCEEDS Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the proceeds of any securities sold for general corporate purposes. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of common shares pursuantstock that may be sold by selling stockholders. RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS The following table displays our ratio of earnings to this prospectus. SELLING SECURITY HOLDER AND PLANfixed charges and ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends (1):
For the Nine Months Ended For the Year Ended December 31, September 30, -------------------------------- 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 ------------- ---- ----- ---- ---- ----- Ratio of earnings to fixed charges............. 1.21x -- (2) 1.25x -- (3) -- (4) 1.27x ===== === ===== === === ===== Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends.................... 1.19x -- (2) 1.20x -- (3) -- (4) 1.27x ===== === ===== === === =====
- -------- (1) Earnings used in computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges consist of net earnings before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges include interest expense on debt and the portion of rental expense deemed to represent the interest factor. (2) Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges. The amount of the coverage deficiency for the year ended December 31, 2000 was $54.2 million, which represented the Company's net loss. The net loss included non-recurring, non-cash accounting charges of $68.9 million. Excluding the accounting charges, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges was 1.12x and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends was 1.09x. (3) Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges. The amount of the coverage deficiency for the year ended December 31, 1998 was $5.9 million, which represented the Company's net loss. There were no preferred stock dividends due or paid during the year ended December 31, 1998. (4) Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges. The amount of the coverage deficiency for the year ended December 31, 1997 was $16.0 million, which represented the Company's net loss. The net loss included an accounting charge of $44.4 million. Excluding the accounting charge, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges was 1.34x. There were no preferred stock dividends due or paid during the year ended December 31, 1997. DESCRIPTION OF DISTRIBUTION AllSECURITIES This prospectus contains a summary of the common stock, registered for sale under this prospectus is owned by the selling shareholder. All of the shares offered in this prospectus were acquired from LBP, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: LBPI.OB). Priorpreferred stock, debt securities and warrants to this offering the only shares of our capital stock held by the selling stockholder were the shares ofpurchase our common stock being offered by this prospectus and it is anticipated that the selling shareholder willor preferred stock. These summaries are not hold any shares of our capital stock after completion of this offering. The selling stockholder may sell the common stock: . directly to purchasers; . to or through underwriters; . through dealers, agents or institutional investors; or . through a combination of such methods. Regardless of the method used to sell the common stock, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will disclose: . the identity of any underwriters, dealers, agents or investors who purchase the common stock; . the material terms of the distribution, including the number of shares sold and the consideration paid; . the amount of any compensation, discounts or commissionsmeant to be received by the underwriters, dealers or agents; . the terms of any indemnification provisions, including indemnification from liabilities under the federal securities laws; and . the nature of any transaction by an underwriter, dealer or agent during the offering that is intended to stabilize or maintain the market price of our common stock. 15 DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK The following is a briefcomplete description of the material terms of the securities to be registered. This description is not completeeach security and is subject and qualified by reference to Maryland law and our charter and Bylaws,bylaws, copies of which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and are incorporated by reference herein. Please see "Where You Can Find More Information."However, this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement contain the material terms and conditions for each security. 16 DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK General Our authorized stock consists of 50,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. Our stockholder meetings are held annually. Pursuant to our charter, we reserve the right to amend any provision of our charter upon the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Common Stock Each share of our common stock is entitled to participate equally in dividends when authorized by our board of directors and in the distribution of our assets upon liquidation. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote, subject to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on transfer of stock, and will be fully paid and nonassessable upon issuance. Shares of common stock have no preference, conversion, exchange, redemption, appraisal, preemptive or cumulative voting rights. Our authorized stock may be increased and altered from time to time in the manner prescribed by Maryland law upon the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter authorizes our board of directors to reclassify any unissued shares of common stock in one or more classes or series of stock. Transfer Agent and Registrar Our transfer agent and registrar is American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, New York, New York. Preferred Stock Our charter authorizes our board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and to classify or reclassify any unissued shares of preferred stock into one or more classes or series of stock. The preferred stock may be issued from time to time with such designations, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption as shall be determined by the board of directors for each class or series of stock subject to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on transfer of stock. Preferred stock is available for possible future financings or acquisitions and for general corporate purposes without further stockholder authorization, unless such authorization is required by applicable law or the rules of the principal national securities exchange on which such stock is listed or admitted to trading. A prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. They will include: . the title and stated value of the preferred stock; . the number of shares of the preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share and the offering price of the preferred stock; . the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation thereof applicable to the preferred stock; . whether dividends shall be cumulative or non cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends on the preferred stock shall accumulate; . the procedures for an auction and remarketing, if any, for the preferred stock; . the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred stock; . any voting rights of the preferred stock; . the provisions for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred stock; 17 . any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange; . the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, including the conversion price or the manner of calculating the conversion price and conversion period; . if appropriate, a discussion of Federal income tax consequences applicable to the preferred stock; . any limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer, in each case as may be appropriate to assist us in qualifying as a REIT; . all series of preferred stock will rank on a parity with each other unless otherwise specified in the charter and will rank senior to common stock with respect payment of dividends and distribution of assets upon liquidation; and . any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions of the preferred stock. The terms, if any, on which the preferred stock may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or other securities will be stated in the preferred stock prospectus supplement. The terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, and may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of preferred stock would be subject to adjustment. Description of Warrants We may issue warrants for the purchase of preferred stock or common stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any offered securities and may be attached to or separate from such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between a warrant agent specified in the agreement and us. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of that series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, where applicable, of the warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered: . the title of the warrants; . the aggregate number of the warrants; . the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued; . the currencies in which the price or prices of the warrants may be payable; . the designation, amount and terms of the offered securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants; . the designation and terms of the other offered securities, if any, with which the warrants are issued and the number of the warrants issued with the security; . if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the offered securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable; . the price or prices at which and currency or currencies in which the offered securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased; . the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which the right shall expire; . the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time; . information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; 18 . if appropriate, a discussion of Federal income tax consequences; and . any other material terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants. Repurchase of Shares and Restrictions on Transfer Pursuant to our charter, if certain proposed transfers of common stock or other events occur that result in a person owning shares in excess of our ownership limits and, consequently, we fail to qualify as a REIT, then that number of shares of stock actually or constructively owned by that person in violation of the ownership limits will be automatically transferred to a trustee of a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries. The intended transferee will not acquire any rights in the shares. Shares held by the trustee will constitute issued and outstanding shares of stock. The trustee will have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to shares held in the trust, which rights will be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the charitable beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to our discovery that shares of stock have been transferred to the trustee will be paid to the trustee upon demand and any dividend or other 16 distribution authorized but unpaid will be paid when due to the trustee. Any dividends or distributions paid to the trustee will be held in trust for the charitable beneficiary. Subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that such shares have been transferred to the trustee, the trustee will have the authority (at the trustee's sole discretion) (1) to rescind as void any vote cast by an intended transferee prior to our discovery that such shares have been transferred to the trustee and (2) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary. Within 20 days of receiving notice from us that shares of stock have been transferred to the trust, the trustee will sell the shares held in the trust to a person designated by the trustee whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership restrictions set forth in our charter. Upon such sale, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the intended transferee and to the charitable beneficiary as follows: the intended transferee will receive the lesser ofof: . the price paid by the intended transferee for the shares or, if the intended did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the trust, the market price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the trusttrust; and . the price per share received by the trustee from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the trust. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the intended transferee will be immediately paid to the charitable beneficiary. In addition, shares of stock held in trust will be deemed to have been offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser ofof: . the price per share in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the market price at the time of such devise or gift); and . the market price on the date we, or our designee, accept such offer. We will have the right to accept such offer until the trustee has sold the shares held in the trust. If the shares are sold to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the intended transferee. Market price is defined in our charter as the closing price for shares on a particular date. The closing price on any date shall mean the last sale price for such shares, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, for such shares, in either case as reported on the American Stock Exchange or the principal national securities exchange on which shares are listed or admitted to trading. 19 All certificates representing shares of common stock bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above. Every owner of more than 5% (or such lower percentage as required by the Internal Revenue CodeCode) of all classes or series of our stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, is required to give us written notice statingstating: . the name and address of such ownerowner; . the number of shares of each class and series of our stock beneficially ownedowned; and . a description of the manner in which the shares are held. Each owner shall provide us any additional information that we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limit. 17Maryland Business Combination Act The Maryland General Corporation Law establishes special requirements for "business combinations" between a Maryland corporation and "interested stockholders" unless exemptions are applicable. An interested stockholder is any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of our then-outstanding voting stock. Among other things, the law prohibits for a period of five years a merger and other similar transactions between our company and an interested stockholder unless the board of directors approved the transaction prior to the party becoming an interested stockholder. The five-year period runs from the most recent date on which the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder. The law also requires a supermajority stockholder vote for such transactions after the end of the five-year period. This means that the transaction must be approved by at least: . 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares, and . two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares other than voting shares held by the interested stockholder or an affiliate of the interested stockholder with whom the business combination is to be effected. The business combination statute could have the effect of discouraging offers to acquire us and of increasing the difficulty of consummating any such offers, even if our acquisition would be in our stockholders' best interests. Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act Maryland law provides that "control shares" of a Maryland corporation acquired in a "control share acquisition" have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of the other stockholders. Two-thirds of the shares eligible to vote must vote in favor of granting the "control shares" voting rights. "Control shares" are shares of stock that, taken together with all other shares of stock the acquirer previously acquired, would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power: . one-tenth or more but less than one-third of all voting power; . one-third or more but less than a majority of all voting power; or . a majority or more of all voting power. Control shares do not include shares of stock the acquiring person is entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A "control share acquisition" means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions. 20 MATERIALIf a person who has made (or proposes to make) a control share acquisition satisfies certain conditions (including agreeing to pay expenses), he may compel our board of directors to call a special meeting of stockholders to consider the voting rights of the shares. If such a person makes no request for a meeting, we have the option to present the question at any stockholders' meeting. If voting rights are not approved at a meeting of stockholders then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, we may redeem any or all of the control shares (except those for which voting rights have previously been approved) for fair value. We will determine the fair value of the shares, without regard to voting rights, as of the date of either: . the last control share acquisition; or . the meeting where stockholders considered and did not approve voting rights of the control shares. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders' meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote, all other stockholders may obtain rights as objecting stockholders and, thereunder, exercise appraisal rights. This means that you would be able to force us to redeem your stock for fair value. Under Maryland law, the fair value may not be less than the highest price per share paid in the control share acquisition. Furthermore, certain limitations otherwise applicable to the exercise of dissenters' rights would not apply in the context of a control share acquisition. The control share acquisition statute would not apply to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if we were a party to the transaction. The control share acquisition statute could have the effect of discouraging offers to acquire us and of increasing the difficulty of consummating any such offers, even if our acquisition would be in our stockholders' best interests. Stockholder Rights Plan Our Board of Directors has adopted a stockholder rights plan. Under the rights plan, one right has been issued and is attached to each outstanding share of common stock. Except as set forth below, each right, when it becomes exercisable, entitles the registered holder to purchase from us one one-hundredth of a share of our Series A preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, at a price of $30.00 per one one-hundredth of a Series A preferred share, subject to adjustment. The rights agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and is also available upon request to us. You should read the rights agreement carefully to fully understand the terms of the stockholder rights plan. Initially, the rights will be attached to all certificates representing common stock then outstanding, and no separate right certificates will be distributed. The rights will become exercisable and separate from the common stock upon the earliest to occur of: . 10 days after a person has acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of our outstanding common stock (unless the offer to acquire the shares is approved by a majority of the board of directors who are not affiliates of the acquiring person); or . (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as our board may determine) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer for 10% or more of our outstanding common stock. Until the distribution of certificates representing the rights, the rights will be transferred solely with the common stock. From and after the distribution of certificates representing the rights, the shares of common stock issued after this distribution will not be issued with rights. Separate right certificates alone will evidence the rights. The rights expire on October 19, 2008, unless earlier redeemed by us as described below. If any person acquires 10% or more of our outstanding common stock in a transaction that has not been approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested board of directors, each holder of a right, other than 21 that person and other related parties, whose rights will automatically become null and void, will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the right the number of shares of common stock, or, in certain circumstances, other securities of Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. having a market value (immediately before the triggering event) equal to two times the exercise price of the right. If at any time after a person acquires 10% or more of our outstanding common stock, (i) Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction in which the holders of all of the outstanding common shares immediately before the consummation of the transaction are not the holders of all of the surviving corporation's voting power, or (ii) more than 50% of our assets or earning power are sold or transferred, in either case with or to a person who acquires 10% or more of our outstanding common stock, or, if in such transaction all holders of common stock are not treated alike, then each holder of a right (except rights which previously have been voided as described above) shall have the right to receive, upon exercise, common shares of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the right. The purchase price payable, and the number of Series A preferred shares, shares of common stock or other securities issuable upon exercise of the rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the Series A preferred shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Series A preferred shares of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Series A preferred shares at a price (or conversion price as the case may be), less than the then current market price of the Series A preferred shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Series A preferred shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above). The number of outstanding rights and the number of one one-hundredth of a Series A preferred share issuable upon exercise of each right are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split of the common stock or a stock dividend on the common stock payable in common stock or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the common stock occurring, in any such case, before the date on which a person acquires 10% or more of our outstanding common stock. Series A preferred shares purchasable upon exercise of the rights will not be redeemable. Each Series A preferred share will be entitled to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company's stockholders. Each Series A preferred share will be entitled to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of $1.00 per share but, if greater, will be entitled to an aggregate dividend per share of 100 times the dividend declared per share of common stock. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Series A preferred shares will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100 per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends; thereafter, and after the holders of the common stock receive a liquidation payment of $1.00 per share (as adjusted), the holders of the Series A preferred shares and the holders of the common stock will share the remaining assets in the ratio of 100 to 1 (as adjusted) for each Series A preferred share and share of common stock so held, respectively. Finally, in the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which common stock is exchanged, each Series A preferred share will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per share of common stock. The rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions. In the event that the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends on the Series A preferred shares is equivalent to six full quarterly dividends or more (whether or not consecutive), the holders of the Series A preferred shares shall have the right, voting as a class, to elect two directors until all cumulative dividends on the Series A preferred shares have been paid through the last quarterly dividend payment date or until non-cumulative dividends have been paid regularly for at least one year. With certain exceptions, no adjustment to the purchase price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in the purchase price. No fractional Series A preferred shares will be issued (other than fractions which are one one-hundredth or integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Series A preferred share, which may, at our election, be evidenced by depository receipts). Cash will be issued in lieu of fractional shares. 22 At any time before the earlier to occur of (i) a person acquiring 10% or more of our outstanding common stock, or (ii) the expiration of the rights, we may redeem all but not less than all of the rights at a price of $.0001 per right. All of the provisions of the rights agreement may be amended by our board of directors prior to the date the rights become exercisable. After the rights become exercisable, the provisions of the rights agreement may be amended by the board in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to make changes which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of rights, or, subject to certain limitations, to shorten or lengthen any time period under the rights agreement. The rights have anti-takeover effects. The rights will cause substantial dilution to any person or group that attempts to acquire our company without the approval of our board. As a result, the overall effect of the rights may be to render more difficult or discourage any attempt to acquire our company, even if the acquisition may be in the interest of our stockholders. Because our board can redeem the rights or approve a permitted offer, the rights will not interfere with a merger or other business combination approved by our board of directors. DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES The following description contains general terms and provisions of the debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may not apply to the debt securities so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities. If there are any differences between the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement will control. For more information please refer to the senior indenture among a trustee to be selected and us, relating to the issuance of the senior notes, and the subordinated indenture among a trustee to be selected and us, relating to issuance of the subordinated notes. Forms of these documents are filed as exhibits to the registration statement, which includes this prospectus. As used in this prospectus, the term indentures refers to both the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture. The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. As used in this section, the term trustee refers to either the senior trustee or the subordinated trustee, as applicable. The following are summaries of material provisions of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture. They do not restate the indentures in their entirety. We urge you to read the indentures applicable to a particular series of debt securities because they, and not this description, define your rights as the holders of the debt securities. Except as otherwise indicated, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical. General Each prospectus supplement will describe the following terms relating to a series of notes: . the title; . any limit on the amount that may be issued; . whether or not such series of notes will be issued in global form, the terms and who the depository will be; . the maturity date(s); . the annual interest rate(s) (which may be fixed or variable) or the method for determining the rate(s) and the date(s) interest will begin to accrue, the date(s) interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such date(s); 23 . the place(s) where payments shall be payable; . our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; . the date, if any, after which, and the price(s) at which, such series of notes may, pursuant to any optional redemption provisions, be redeemed at our option, and other related terms and provisions; . the date(s), if any, on which, and the price(s) at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder's option to purchase, such series of notes and other related terms and provisions; . the denominations in which such series of notes will be issued, if in other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; . any mandatory or optional sinking fund or similar provisions; . the currency or currency units of payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes; . any index used to determine the amount of payments of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined; . the terms pursuant to which such notes are subject to defeasance; . the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which such notes are secured; and . any other terms (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the Indenture). The notes may be issued as original issue discount securities. An original issue discount security is a note, including any zero-coupon note, which: . is issued at a price lower than the amount payable upon its stated maturity; and . provides that upon redemption or acceleration of the maturity, an amount less than the amount payable upon the stated maturity, shall become due and payable. United States federal income tax consequences applicable to notes sold at an original issue discount will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, United States federal income tax or other consequences applicable to any notes that are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than United States dollars may be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Under the indentures, we will have the ability, in addition to the ability to issue notes with terms different from those of notes previously issued, without the consent of the holders, to reopen a previous issue of a series of notes and issue additional notes of that series, unless the reopening was restricted when the series was created, in an aggregate principal amount determined by us. Conversion or Exchange Rights The terms, if any, on which a series of notes may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or other securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of notes. The terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, and may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of the series of notes would be subject to adjustment. Consolidation, Merger or Sale The indentures do not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, any successor or acquirer of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the indentures or the notes, as appropriate. 24 Events of Default Under the Indenture The following are events of default under the indentures with respect to any series of notes issued: . failure to pay interest when due and such failure continues for 30 days and the time for payment has not been extended or deferred; . failure to pay the principal (or premium, if any) when due; . failure to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the notes or the indentures (other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of notes), and such failure continues for 90 days after we receive notice from the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of that series; and . certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. If an event of default with respect to notes of any series occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of that series, by notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders), may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to such series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding: . payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest; or . certain covenants containing limitations on our ability to pay dividends and make payments on debt securities in certain circumstances. Any such waiver shall cure such default or event of default. Subject to the terms of the indentures, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of notes, unless such holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the notes of that series, provided that: . it is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; . the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by it which is not inconsistent with such direction; and . subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding. A holder of the notes of any series will only have the right to institute a proceeding under the indentures or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies if: . the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series; . the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of that series have made written request, and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee to institute such proceedings as trustee; and . the trustee does not institute such proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of that series other conflicting directions within 60 days after such notice, request and offer. 25 These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of notes if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the notes. We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with certain of the covenants in the indentures. Modification of Indenture; Waiver Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to certain matters, including: . to fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in such indenture; and . to change anything that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holder of notes of any series. In addition, under the indentures, the rights of holders of a series of notes may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes of each series that is affected. However, we can make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding notes affected: . extend the fixed maturity of such series of notes; . change any of our obligations to pay additional amounts; . reduce the principal amount, reduce the rate of or extend the time of payment of interest, or any premium payable upon the redemption of any such notes; . reduce the percentage of notes, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment; . reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount security or any other note payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof; . change currency in which any note or any premium or interest is payable; . impair the right to enforce any payment on or with respect to any note; . adversely change the right to convert or exchange, including decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion price of, such note, if applicable; . in the case of the subordinated indenture, modify the subordination provisions in a manner adverse to the holders of the subordinated notes; . if the notes are secured, change the terms and conditions pursuant to which the notes are secured in a manner adverse to the holders of the secured notes; . reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding notes of any series, the consent by the holders of such notes is required for modification or amendment of the applicable indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the applicable indenture or for waiver of certain defaults; . reduce the requirements contained in the applicable indenture for quorum or voting; . change any of our obligations to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes required by the indentures; or . modify any of the above provisions. 26 Form, Exchange, and Transfer The notes of each series will be issuable only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures will provide that notes of a series may be issuable in temporary or permanent global form and may be issued as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company or another depository named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement with respect to such series. At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, notes of any series will be exchangeable for other notes of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, notes may be presented for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed, duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for such purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the notes to be transferred or exchanged, we will not require a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges. The security registrar and any transfer agent initially designated by us for any notes will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the notes of each series. If the notes of any series are to be redeemed, we will not be required to: . issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any notes of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any such notes that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing; or . register the transfer of or exchange any notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any such notes being redeemed in part. Information Concerning the Trustee The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically described in the indentures and, upon an event of default under an indenture, must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indentures at the request of any holder of notes unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur. The trustee is not required to spend or risk its own money or otherwise become financially liable while performing its duties unless it reasonably believes that it will be repaid or receive adequate indemnity. Payment and Paying Agents Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of the interest on any notes on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name such notes or one or more predecessor securities are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest. Principal of and any premium and interest on the notes of a particular series will be payable at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest payments may be made by check mailed to the holder. Unless otherwise indicated in such prospectus supplement, the corporate trust office of the trustee in New York will be designated as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to notes of each series. Any other paying agents initially designated by us for the 27 notes of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the notes of a particular series. All moneys paid by us to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any notes which remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the security may then look only to us for payment. Governing Law The indentures and the notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act shall be applicable. Subordination of Subordinated Notes The subordinated notes will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement. The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of subordinated notes which we may issue, nor does it limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt. 28 SELLING STOCKHOLDERS The selling stockholders may be our directors, executive officers, former directors, employees or other holders of our common stock. The prospectus supplement for any offering of the common stock by selling stockholders will include the following information: . the names of the selling stockholders; . the number of shares held by each of the selling stockholders; . the percentage of the common stock held by each of the selling stockholders; and . the number of shares of the common stock offered by each of the selling stockholders. The selling stockholders will be responsible for the expenses and fees of the registration and sale of the shares of common stock sold by the selling stockholders. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCESCONSIDERATIONS Based on various assumptions and factual representations made by us regarding our operations, in the opinion of McKee Nelson LLP, our tax counsel, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 1995, we have been and will continue to be organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code, and our method of operating has enabled us, and our proposed method of operating in the future will enable us, to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. Our qualification as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet the various requirements imposed under the Code through our actual operations. McKee Nelson LLP will not review our operations, and no assurance can be given that our actual operations will meet the requirements imposed under the Code. The opinion of McKee Nelson LLP is not binding on the IRS or any court. The opinion of McKee Nelson LLP is based upon existing law, Treasury regulations, currently published administrative positions of the IRS, and judicial decisions, all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively. The provisions of the Code pertaining to REITs are highly technical and complex. Under the Code, if certain requirements are met in a taxable year, a REIT generally will not be subject to federal income tax with respect to income that it distributes to its shareholders.stockholders. If we fail to qualify during any taxable year as a REIT, unless certain relief provisions are available, we will be subject to tax (including any applicable alternative minimum tax) on our taxable income at regular corporate rates, which could have a material adverse effect upon our stockholders. The following discussion summarizes the material United States federal income tax consequences that relate to our qualification and taxation as a REIT and that flow from an investment in our stock. No assurance can be given that the conclusions set out below, if challenged by the IRS, would be sustained by a court. This discussion deals only with stock that is held as a capital asset, which generally means property that is held for investment. In addition, except to the extent discussed below, this summary does not address tax consequences applicable to you if you are subject to special tax rules. For instance, the discussion does not address tax consequences applicable to the following categories of stockholders: . dealers or traders in securities; . financial institutions; . insurance companies; . stockholders that hold our stock as a hedge, part of a straddle, conversion transaction or other arrangement involving more than one position; or . stockholders whose functional currency is not the United States dollar; or . stockholders that are tax-exempt organizations or foreign taxpayers.dollar. 29 The discussion set out below is intended only as a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences of our treatment as a REIT and of an investment in our stock. Taxpayers and preparers of tax returns (including returns filed by any partnership or other arrangement) should be aware that under Treasury regulations a provider of advice on specific issues of law is not considered an income tax return preparer unless the advice is (i) given with respect to events that have occurred at the time the advice is rendered and is not given with respect to the consequences of contemplated actions, and (ii) is directly relevant to the determination of an entry on a tax return. Accordingly, we are not income tax return preparers and we urge you to consult your own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of an investment in our stock, including the application to your particular situation of the tax matters discussed below, as well as the application of state, local or foreign tax laws. The statements of United States tax law set out below are based on the 18 laws in force and their interpretation as of the date of this prospectus, and are subject to changes occurring after that date. REIT Qualification RequirementsRequirement The following is a brief summary of the material technical requirements imposed by the Code that we must satisfy on an ongoing basis to qualify, and remain qualified, as a REIT. Stock Ownership Requirements We must meet the following stock ownership requirements: (1) our capital stock must be transferable; (2) our capital stock must be held by at least 100 persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months (or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months); and (3) no more than 50% of the value of our capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals at any time during the last half of the taxable year. In applying this test, the Code treats some entities as individuals. Tax-exempt entities, other than private foundations and certain unemployment compensation trusts, are generally not treated as individuals for these purposes. The requirements of items (2) and (3) above did not apply to the first taxable year for which we made an election to be taxed as a REIT. However, these stock ownership requirements must be satisfied in each subsequent taxable year. Our charter imposes restrictions on the transfer of our shares to help us meet the stock ownership requirements. In addition, Treasury regulations require us to demand from the record holders of designated percentages of our capital stock, annual written statements disclosing actual and constructive ownership of our stock. The same regulations require us to maintain permanent records showing the information we have received regarding actual and constructive stock ownership and a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with our demand. Asset Requirements We generally must meet the following asset requirements at the close of each quarter of each taxable year: (a) at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be "qualified REIT real estate assets" (described below), government securities, cash and cash items; (b) no more than 25% of the value of our total assets may be securities other than securities in the 75% asset class (for example, government securities and certain mortgage-backed securities); (c) no more than 20% of the value of our total assets may be securities of one or more Taxable REIT subsidiaries (described below); and 30 (d) except for securities in the 75% asset class, securities in a Taxable REIT subsidiary or "qualified REIT subsidiary," and certain partnership interests and debt obligations--obligations (1) no more than 5% of the value of our total assets may be securities of any one issuer, (2) we may not hold securities that possess more than 10% percent of the total voting power of the outstanding securities of any one issuer,issuer; and (3) we may not hold securities that have a value of more than 10 percent10% of the total value of the outstanding securities of any one issuer. 19 "Qualified REIT real estate assets" means assets of the type described in section 856(c)(5)(B) of the Code, and generally include (among other assets) interests in mortgages on real property and certain mortgage-backed securities, and shares in other REITs. A "Taxable REIT subsidiary" is a corporation that may earn income that would not be qualifying income if earned directly by the REIT. A REIT may hold up to 100% of the stock in a Taxable REIT subsidiary. Both the subsidiary and the REIT must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a Taxable REIT subsidiary by jointly filing a Form 8875 with the IRS. A Taxable REIT subsidiary will pay tax at the corporate rates on any income it earns. Moreover, the Code contains rules to ensure contractual arrangements between a Taxable REIT subsidiary and the parent REIT are at arm's length. We have, together with IFC, filed an election to have IFC treated as our Taxable REIT subsidiary as of January 1, 2001. If we fail to meet any of the asset tests as of the close of a calendar quarter due to the acquisition of securities or other assets, the Code allows us a 30-day period following the close of the calendar quarter to come into compliance with the asset tests. If we do cure a failure within the 30-day period, we will be treated as having satisfied the asset tests at the close of the calendar quarter. Gross Income Requirements We generally must meet the following gross income requirements for each taxable year: (a) at least 75% of our gross income must be derived from the real estate sources specified in section 856(c)(3) of the Code, including interest income on obligations secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property and gain from the disposition of qualified REIT real estate assets, and "qualified temporary investment income" (generally, income we earn from investing new capital, provided we received or accrued that income within one year of acquiring such new capital); and (b) at least 95% of our gross income for each taxable year must be derived from sources of income specified in section 856(c)(2) of the Code, which includes the types of gross income described justin (a) above, as well as dividends, interest, and gains from the sale of stock or other financial instruments (including interest rate swap and cap agreements, options, futures contracts, forward rate agreements or similar financial instruments entered into to reduce interest rate risk with respect to debt incurred or to be incurred to acquire or carry qualified REIT real estate assets) not held for sale in the ordinary course of business. Distribution Requirements We generally must distribute dividends (other than capital gain dividends) to our stockholders in an amount at least equal to (1) the sum of (a) 90% of our REIT taxable income (computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and net capital gains) and (b) 90% of the net income (after tax, if any) from foreclosure property, minus (2) the sum of certain items of non-cash income. In addition, if we were to recognize "Built in Gain" (as defined below) on disposition of any assets acquired from a "C"C corporation in a transaction in which Built in Gain was not recognized (for instance, assets acquired in a statutory merger), we would be required to distribute at 31 least 90% of the Built in Gain recognized net of the tax we would pay on such gain. Built"Built in GainGain" is the excess of (a) the fair market value of an asset (measured at the time of acquisition) over (b) the basis of the asset (measured at the time of acquisition). We do not hold any assets having Built in Gain. We are not required to distribute our net capital gains. Rather than distribute them, we may elect to retain and pay the federal income tax on them, in which case our stockholders will (1) include their proportionate share of the undistributed net capital gains in income, (2) receive a credit for their share of the federal income tax we pay and (3) increase the bases in their stock by the difference between their share of the capital gain and their share of the credit. 20 Failure to Qualify If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year and the relief provisions provided in the Code do not apply, we will be subject to federal income tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income in that taxable year and all subsequent taxable years at the regular corporate income tax rates. We will not be allowed to deduct distributions to shareholdersstockholders in these years, nor will the Code require us to make distributions. Further, unless entitled to the relief provisions of the Code, we also will be barred from re-electing REIT status for the four taxable years following the year in which we fail to qualify. It is not possible to state in what circumstances we would be entitled to any statutory relief. We intend to monitor on an ongoing basis our compliance with the REIT requirements described above. To maintain our REIT status, we will be required to limit the types of assets that we might otherwise acquire, or hold some assets at times when we might otherwise have determined that the sale or other disposition of these assets would have been more prudent. Taxation as a REIT In any year in which we qualify as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on that portion of our REIT taxable income or capital gain that we distribute to our stockholders. We will, however, be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate income tax rates on any undistributed taxable income or capital gain. Notwithstanding our qualification as a REIT, we may also be subject to tax in the following other circumstances: . If we fail to satisfy either the 75% or the 95% gross income test, but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because we meet other requirements, we generally will be subject to a 100% tax on the greater of the amount by which we fail either the 75% or the 95% gross income test multiplied by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability. . We will be subject to a tax of 100% on net income derived from any "prohibited transaction"prohibited transaction which is, in general, a sale or other disposition of property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. . If we have (1) net income from the sale or other disposition of foreclosure property that is held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business or (2) other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property, it will be subject to federal income tax at the highest corporate income tax rate. . If we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (1) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (2) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year and (3) any amount of undistributed ordinary income and capital gain net income from preceding taxable years, we will be subject to a 4% federal excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amounts actually distributed during the taxable year. . If we acquire a Built in Gain asset from a C corporation in a transaction in which the basis of the asset is determined by reference to the basis of the asset in the hands of the C corporation and we recognize Built 2132 in Gain upon a disposition of such asset occurring within 10 years of its acquisition, then we will be subject to federal tax to the extent of any such Built in Gain at the highest corporate income tax rate. . We may also be subject to the corporate alternative minimum tax, as well as other taxes in situations not presently contemplated. Taxation of U.S. Stockholders For purposes of this discussion, a "U.S. Stockholder" is a stockholder who is a "U.S. Person." A U.S. Person is a person who is: . a citizen or resident of the United States; . a corporation, partnership, or other entity created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof; . an estate whose income is includible in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or . a trust, if (1) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (2) the trust was in existence on August 26, 1996, was treated as a domestic trust prior to such date, and has made an election to continue to be treated as a U.S. person. Unless you are a tax-exempt entity, distributions that we make to you,a U.S. Stockholder, including constructive distributions, generally will be subject to tax as ordinary income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits as determined for federal income tax purposes. If the amount we distribute to you exceeds your allocable share of current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of your adjusted basis in your stock, which will reduce your basis in your stock but will not be subject to tax. To the extent the amount we distribute to you exceeds both your allocable share of current and accumulated earnings and profits and your adjusted basis, this excess amount will be treated as a gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. Distributions to our corporate stockholders, whether characterized as ordinary income or as capital gain, are not eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction. Distributions that we designate as capital gain dividends generally will be taxable in your hands as long-term capital gains, to the extent such distributions do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year. In the event that we realize a loss for the taxable year, you will not be permitted to deduct any share of that loss. Further, if we, or a portion of our assets, were to be treated as a taxable mortgage pool, any excess inclusion income that is allocated to you could not be offset by any losses or other deductions you may have. Future Treasury regulations may require you to take into account, for purposes of computing your individual alternative minimum tax liability, some of our tax preference items. Dividends that we declare during the last quarter of a calendar year and actually pay to you during January of the following taxable year, generally are treated as if we had paid, and you had received them on December 31 of the calendar year and not on the date actually paid. In addition, we may elect to treat other dividends distributed after the close of the taxable year as having been paid during the taxable year, so long as they meet the requirements described in the Code, but you will be treated as having received these dividends in the taxable year in which the distribution is actually made. If you sell or otherwise dispose of our stock, you will generally recognize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and your adjusted basis in theour stock, which gain or loss will be long-term if the stock is held for more than one year. Any loss recognized on the sale or exchange of stock held for six months or less generally will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of (1) any long-term capital gain dividends you receive with respect to theour stock and (2) your proportionate share of any long-term capital gains that we retain (see the discussion under the caption Distribution Requirements)''Distribution Requirements"). 33 If we fail to qualify as a REIT in any year, distributions we make to you will be taxable in the same manner discussed above, except that: . we will not be allowed to designate any distributions as capital gain dividends; . distributions (to the extent they are made out of our current and accumulated earnings and profits) will be eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction; . the excess inclusion income rules will not apply to the stockholders; and . you will not receive any share of our tax preference items. 22 items; and . dividends that we declare in the last quarter of the calendar year but pay to you in January would not be treated as though we had paid them to you on the immediately preceding December 31. In this event, however, we could be subject to substantial federal income tax liability as a C corporation, and the amount of earnings and cash available for distribution to you and other stockholders could be significantly reduced or eliminated. Information Reporting and Backup WithholdingWithholding--U.S. Stockholders For each calendar year, we will report to our domesticU.S. stockholders and to the IRS the amount of distributions that we pay, and the amount of tax (if any) that we withhold on these distributions. Under the backup withholding rules, you may be subject to backup withholding tax at a rate of 31% with respect to distributions paid unless you: . are a corporation or come within another exempt category and demonstrate this fact when required; or . provide a taxpayer identification number, certify as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding tax and otherwise comply with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding tax rules. A domesticU.S. stockholder may satisfy this requirement by providing us an appropriately prepared Form W-9. If you do not provide us with your correct taxpayer identification number, then you may also be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Backup withholding tax is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding tax rules will be refunded or credited against your United States federal income tax liability, provided you furnish the required information to the IRS. Taxation of Tax-Exempt Entities The discussion under this heading only applies to you if you are a tax- exempttax-exempt entity. Subject to the discussion below regarding a pension-held REIT, distributions received from us or gain realized on the sale of our stock will not be taxable as unrelated business taxable income (UBTI), provided that: . you have not incurred indebtedness to purchase or hold our stock; . you do not otherwise use our stock in a trade or business unrelated to your exempt purpose; and . we, consistent with our present intent, do not hold a residual interest in a REMIC that gives rise to excess inclusion income as defined under section 860E of the Code. If all or a portion of our assets were to be treated as a taxable mortgage pool, however, a substantial portion of the dividends you receive may be subject to tax as UBTI. In addition, a substantial portion of the dividends you receive may constitute UBTI if we are treated as a "pension-held REIT" and you are a "qualified pension trust" that holds more than 10% by value of our stock at any time during a taxable year. For these purposes, a "qualified pension trust" is any pension or other retirement 34 trust that satisfies the requirements imposed under section 401(a) of the Code. We will be treated as a "pension-held REIT" if (1) we would not be a REIT if we had to treat stock held in a qualified pension trust as owned by the trust (instead of as owned by the trust's multiple beneficiaries) and (2) (a) at least one qualified pension trust holds more than 25% of our stock by value, or (b) one or more qualified pension trusts (each owning more than 10% of our stock by value) hold in the aggregate more than 50% of our stock by value. Assuming compliance with the ownership limit provisions set forth in our articles of incorporation, it is unlikely that pension plans will accumulate sufficient stock to cause us to be treated as a pension-held REIT. 23 If you qualify for exemption under sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17), and (c)(20) of the Code, then distributions received by you may also constitute UBTI. We urge you to consult your tax advisors concerning the applicable set aside and reserve requirements. United States Federal Income Tax Considerations Applicable to Foreign Stockholders The discussion under this heading only applies to you if you are not a U.S. person (hereafter,(hereinafter, a "foreign stockholder"). A U.S. person is a person who is: . a citizen or resident of the United States; . a corporation, partnership, or other entity created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof; . an estate whose income is includible in gross income for United States Federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or . a trust, if (1) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (2) the trust was in existence on August 26, 1996, was treated as a domestic trust prior to such date, and has made an election to continue to be treated as a U.S. person. This discussion is only a brief summary of the United States federal tax consequences that apply to you, which are highly complex, and does not consider any specific facts or circumstances that may apply to you and your particular situation. We urge you to consult your tax advisors regarding the United States federal tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of our stock, as well as any tax consequences that may arise under the laws of any foreign, state, local or other taxing jurisdiction. Distributions Except for distributions attributable to gain from the disposition of real property interests or distributions designated as capital gains dividends, distributions you receive from us generally will be subject to the extent of our earnings and profits, to federal withholding tax at the rate of 30%, to the extent of our earnings and profits, unless reduced or eliminated by an applicable tax treaty or unless the distributions are treated as effectively connected with your United States trade or business. If you wish to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty, you may need to satisfy certification and other requirements, such as providing Form W-8BEN. If you wish to claim distributions are effectively connected with your United States trade or business, you may need to satisfy certification and other requirements such as providing Form W-8ECI. Distributions you receive that are in excess of our earnings and profits will be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of your adjusted basis in your stock. If the amount of the distribution also exceeds your adjusted basis, this excess amount will be treated as gain from the sale or exchange of your stock as described below. If we cannot determine at the time we make a distribution whether the distribution will exceed our earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the same rate as dividends. These withheld amounts, however, will be refundable or creditable against your United States federal tax liability if it is subsequently determined that the distribution was, in fact, in excess of our earnings and profits. If you receive a dividend that is treated as being effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States, the dividend will be subject to the United States federal income tax on net income that applies to United States persons generally, and may be subject to the branch profits tax if you are a corporation. 24 Distributions that we make to you and designate as capital gains dividends, other than those attributable to the disposition of a United States real property interest, generally will not be subject to United States federal income taxation, unless: . your investment in our stock is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States; or . you are a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year, and other requirements are met. 35 Distributions that are attributable to a disposition of United States real property interests are subject to income and withholding taxes pursuant to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Act of 1980 (FIRPTA), and may also be subject to branch profits tax if you are a corporation that is not entitled to treaty relief or exemption. However, because we do not expect to hold assets that would be treated asrecognize gain attributable to the disposition of United States real property interests as defined by FIRPTA, the FIRPTA provisions should not apply to investment indistributions we make with respect to our stock. Gain on Disposition You generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax on gain recognized on a sale or other disposition of our stock unless: . the gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States; . you are a nonresident alien individual who holds our stock as a capital asset and are present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year and other requirements are met; or . you are subject to tax under the FIRPTA rules discussed below. Gain that is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States will be subject to the United States federal income tax on net income that applies to United States persons generally and may be subject to the branch profits tax if you are a corporation. However, these effectively connected gains will generally not be subject to withholding. We urge you to consult applicable treaties, which may provide for different rules. Under FIRPTA, you may be subject to tax on gain recognized from a sale or other disposition of your stock if we were to both (1) hold United States real property interests and (2) fail to qualify as a domestically controlled REIT. A REIT qualifies as a domestically-controlled REIT as long as less than 50% in value of its shares of beneficial interest are held by foreign persons at all times during the shorter of (1) the previous five years and (2) the period in which the REIT is in existence. As mentioned above, we do not expect to hold any United States real property interests. Furthermore, we will likely qualify as a domestically controlled REIT, although no assurances can be provided because our shares are publicly traded. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax The information reporting and backup withholding tax requirements (discussed above) will generally not apply to foreign holders in the case of distributions treated as (1) dividends subject to the 30% (or lower treaty rate) withholding tax (discussed above), or (2) capital gain dividends. Also, as a general matter, backup withholding and information reporting will not apply to the payment of proceeds from shares sold by or through a foreign office of a foreign broker. However, in some cases (for example, a sale of shares through the foreign office of a U.S. broker), information reporting is required unless the foreign holder certifies under penalty of 25 perjury that it is a foreign holder, or otherwise establishes an exemption. A foreign stockholder may satisfy this requirement by using an appropriately prepared Form W-8 BEN. Federal Estate Taxes In general, if an individual who is not a citizen or resident (as defined in the Code) of the United States owns (or is treated as owning) our stock at the date of death, such stock will be included in the individual'sindividual 's estate for United States Federalfederal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable treaty provides otherwise. State and Local Taxes We and our stockholders may be subject to state or local taxation in various jurisdictions, including those in which we or they transact business or reside. The state and local tax treatment that applies to us and our 36 stockholders may not conform to the federal income tax consequences discussed above. Consequently, we urge you to consult your own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION We and any selling stockholders may sell the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements to or through one or more underwriters or dealers, or to investors directly or through agents. Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the securities to which such prospectus supplement relates, the names of the selling stockholders and the number of shares of common stock to be sold by each, the name or names of any underwriters or agents with whom we or the selling stockholders, or both, have entered into arrangements with respect to the sale of such securities, the public offering or purchase price of such securities and the net proceeds we or the selling stockholders will receive from such sale. Any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may sell securities directly to investors on our own behalf in those jurisdictions where we are authorized to do so. Underwriters may offer and sell the securities at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. We also may, from time to time, authorize dealers or agents to offer and sell these securities upon such terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. In connection with the sale of any of these securities, underwriters may receive compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for which they may act as agents. Shares may also be sold in one or more of the following transactions: (a) block transactions (which may involve crosses) in which a broker-dealer may sell all or a portion of the shares as agent but may position and resell all or a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (b) purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus supplement; (c) a special offering, an exchange distribution or a secondary distribution in accordance with applicable American Stock Exchange or other stock exchange rules; (d) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker-dealer solicits purchasers; (e) sales "at the market" to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise, for shares; and (f) sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers. Broker-dealers may also receive compensation from purchasers of the shares which is not expected to exceed that customary in the types of transactions involved. Any underwriting compensation paid by us to underwriters or agents in connection with the offering of these securities, and any discounts or concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any selling stockholder, underwriter, dealer or agent participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold and any discounts or commissions received by 37 them, and any profit realized by them on the same or resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Unless otherwise set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement, the obligations of any underwriters to purchase any of these securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the series of securities, if any are purchased. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business. In connection with the offering of the securities hereby, certain underwriters, and selling group members and their respective affiliates, may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the applicable securities. These transactions may include stabilization transactions effected in accordance with Rule 104 of Regulation M promulgated by the SEC pursuant to which these persons may bid for or purchase securities for the purpose of stabilizing their market price. The underwriters in an offering of securities may also create a "short position" for their account by selling more securities in connection with the offering than they are committed to purchase from us. In that case, the underwriters could cover all or a portion of the short position by either purchasing securities in the open market following completion of the offering of these securities or by exercising any over-allotment option granted to them by us. In addition, the managing underwriter may impose "penalty bids" under contractual arrangements with other underwriters, which means that they can reclaim from an underwriter (or any selling group member participating in the offering) for the account of the other underwriters, the selling concession for the securities that are distributed in the offering but subsequently purchased for the account of the underwriters in the open market. Any of the transactions described in this paragraph or comparable transactions that are described in any accompanying prospectus supplement may result in the maintenance of the price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. None of the transactions described in this paragraph or in an accompanying prospectus supplement are required to be taken by any underwriters and, if they are undertaken, may be discontinued at any time. Each series of securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market other than the common stock which is listed on the American Stock Exchange. Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on the American Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance. Any underwriters to whom we sell securities for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The securities, other than the common stock, may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. LEGAL MATTERS The validitylegality of the issuance of the shares offered in this prospectussecurities will be passed upon for us by Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, Los Angeles, California. Certain legalAll matters described under "Material Federal Income Tax Consequences" and certain matters with respect toof Maryland law will be passed upon for us by McKee Nelson LLP, Washington, D.C. In addition, McKee Nelson LLP, Washington, D.C., is providing the legal opinions referred to under "Material federal income tax consequences" in this prospectus. 38 EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements of Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. and of Impac Funding Corp.Corporation as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and for each of the years in the three-year period endingended December 31, 2000, have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent auditors, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. 26 WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any document it files at the Securities and Exchange Commission's public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., in Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission maintains an Internet site that contains our reports, proxy and information statements and other information at http://www.sec.gov. The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information it files with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below. We also incorporate by reference any future filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This prospectus is part of a registration statement that Impac Mortgage Holdings has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. . Impac Mortgage Holding's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2001. . Impac Mortgage Holdings's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2001 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 2001. . Impac Mortgage Holding's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 1, 2001, March 30, 2001, March 5, 2001 and January 19, 2001. . Impac Mortgage Holdings Definitive Proxy Statement dated June 1, 2001 relating to the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on July 24, 2001. You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing our Investor Relations Department us at the following address: 1401 Dove Street, Suite 100, Newport Beach, CA 92660, or by calling (949) 475-3700. 2739 PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by the Registrant in connection with the sale of the common stock being registered hereby, other than underwriting commissions and discounts, all of which are estimated except for the Securities and Exchange Commission filing fees. Item Amount ---- ------ Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee 3,539 Printing and engraving expenses 10,000 Legal fees and expenses 20,000 Accounting fees and expenses 10,000 Miscellaneous expenses 7,500 --------------- Total $51,039.00 ===============
Item Amount ---- ----------- Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee $ 62,751.33 Printing and engraving expenses.................... 5,000.00 Legal fees and expenses............................ 50,000.00 Accounting fees and expenses....................... 15,000.00 Miscellaneous expenses............................. 7,248.67 ----------- Total........................................... $140,000.00 ===========
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers. The Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty or bad faith established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. The Registrant's charter contains such a provision which eliminates such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. The Registrant's charter authorizes it, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to obligate itself to indemnify and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (1) any present or former director or officer or (2) any individual who, while a director of Registrant and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee of such corporation, real estate investment trust partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his status as a present or former director or officer of Registrant. Our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (1) any present or former director or officer who is made a party to the proceeding by reason of his service in that capacity or (2) any individual who, while a director of Registrant and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee of such corporation, real estate investment trust partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is II-1 made a party to the proceeding by reason of his service in that capacity. The charter and bylaws of the Registrant also permit it to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of Registrant in any of the capacities described above and to any of our employees or agents or a predecessor of Registrant. The Maryland General Corporation Law requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he is made a party by reason of his service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (1) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the II-1 proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (2) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. In addition, the Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation's receipt of (1) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his good faith belief that he has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (2) a written undertaking by him or on his behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct was not met. In addition, the Registrant has entered into an Indemnity Agreement (Exhibit 10.4 of its Registration Statement on Form S-11 (File No. 33-96670) and Amendments No. 1, 2 and 3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 1995, October 23, 1995, October 30, 1995 and November 8, 1995, respectively) with its officers and directors. The Registrant maintains for the benefit of its officers and directors, officers' and directors' insurance. Item 16. Exhibits 1.1 The form of any Underwriting Agreement will be filed as an exhibit to a current report of the Registrant on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein. 3.1 Charter of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-11, as amended (File No. 33-96670), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 1995). 3.1(a) Certificate of correction of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1(a) of the Registrant's 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998). 3.1(b) Articles of Amendment of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1(b) of the Registrant's 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998). 3.1(c) Articles of Amendment for change of name to charter of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to exhibit number 3.1(a) of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed February 11, 1998). 3.1(d) Articles Supplementary and Certificate of Correction for Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1(d) of the Registrant's 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998). 3.1(e) Articles Supplementary for Series B 10.5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1(b) of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, December 23, 1998). 3.1(f) Articles Supplementary for Series C 10.5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2000). 3.1(g) Certificate of Correction for Series C Preferred Stock of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2000). 3.2 Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended and restated (incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 1998). 4 Form of Common Stock certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Registrant's Registration Statement of Form S-11 as amended (File No. 33-96670), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 1995).
II-2 3.1(d) Articles Supplementary and Certificate of Correction for Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1(d) of the Registrant's 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998) 3.1(e) Articles Supplementary for Series B 10.5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1(b) of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed December 23, 1998) 3.1(f) Articles Supplementary for Series C 10.5% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2000) 3.1(g) Certificate of Correction for Series C Preferred Stock of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2000) 3.2 Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended and restated (incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 1998) 4 Form of Common Stock certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Registrant's Registration Statement of Form S-11 as amended (File No. 33-96670), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 1995) 5.1 Opinion of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP as to the validity of the securities being registered 5.2 Opinion of McKee Nelson LLP as to the validity of the securities being registered 8 Opinion of McKee Nelson LLP as to tax matters 23.1 Consent of KPMG LLP regarding Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. 23.2 Consent of KPMG LLP regarding Impac Funding Corporation 23.3 Consent of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1) 23.4 Consent of McKee Nelson LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.2) 23.5 Consent of McKee Nelson LLP (contained in Exhibit 8) 24 Power of Attorney (contained on Signature page) - ------------ 4.2 Rights Agreement between the Registrant and BankBoston, N.A. (incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 14, 1998). 4.2(a) Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement between the Registrant and BankBoston, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1(a) of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 23, 1998). 4.3 Form of Senior Indenture. 4.4 Form of Subordinated Indenture. 4.5 The form of any Senior Note with respect to each particular series of Senior Notes issued hereunder will be filed as an exhibit to a current Report of the Registrant on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein. 4.6 The form of any Subordinated Note with respect to each particular series of Subordinated Notes issued hereunder will be filed as an exhibit to a current Report of the Registrant on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein. 4.7 The form of any articles supplementary with respect to any preferred stock issued hereunder will be filed as an exhibit to a current Report of the Registrant on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein. 4.8 The form of any Warrant Agreement with respect to any warrant served hereunder will be filed as an exhibit to a current Report of the Registrant on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein. 4.9 The form of any warrant with respect to each series of warrants will be filed as an exhibit to a current Report of the Registrant on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein. 5.1 Opinion of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP. 5.2 Opinion of McKee Nelson LLP. 8 Opinion of McKee Nelson LLP as to tax matters. 12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preference Dividends. 23.1 Consent of KPMG LLP regarding Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. 23.2 Consent of KPMG LLP regarding Impac Funding Corporation. 23.3 Consent of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1). 23.4 Consent of McKee Nelson LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.2). 23.5 Consent of McKee Nelson LLP (contained in Exhibit 8). 24 Power of Attorney (contained on signature page). 25 The form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1934 will be filed as an exhibit to a current report of the Registrant on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 17. Undertakings. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: (a) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; (b) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment hereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding II-3 the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), if in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement. II-3 (c) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement.Statement; provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraph (a) and (b) above shall not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement. (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective. For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act. II-4 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Newport Beach, State of California, on the 19th30/th/ day of June,November, 2001. IMPAC MORTGAGE HOLDINGS, INC. By: /s/ JOSEPH R. TOMKINSON -----------------------------__________________________________ Joseph R. Tomkinson, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes anand appoints Joseph R. Tomkinson and Richard J. Johnson and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution for him in any and all capacities, to sign (1) any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and (2) any registration statement or post-effective amendment thereto to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Names Title Date - --------- ----- ---- /S//s/ JOSEPH R. TOMKSONTOMKINSON Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive November 30, 2001 - ----------------------- Officer ----------------------- (Principal Executive Officer) June 19, 2001 Joseph R. Tomkinson /S//s/ WILLIAM S. ASHMORE Chief Operating Officer, President and November 30, 2001 - ----------------------- Director William S. Ashmore /s/ RICHARD J. JOHNSON Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice November 30, 2001 - ----------------------- President ------------------------- (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer) June 19, 2001 Richard J. Johnson /S/ WILLIAM S. ASHMORE ------------------------- William S. Ashmore Director June 19, 2001 /S/Financial Officer) /s/ JAMES WALSH -------------------------Director November 30, 2001 - ----------------------- James Walsh Director June 19, 2001 /S//s/ FRANK P. FILIPPS Director November 30, 2001 - ----------------------- Frank P. Filipps Director June 19, 2001 /S//s/ STEPHAN R. PEERS ----------------------Director November 30, 2001 - ----------------------- Stephan R. Peers Director June 19, 2001 /S//s/ WILLIAM E. ROSE ---------------------Director November 30, 2001 - ----------------------- William E. Rose Director June 19, 2001 /S//s/ LEIGH J. ABRAMS ---------------------Director November 30, 2001 - ----------------------- Leigh J. Abrams Director June 19, 2001
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