Loans Held for Investment and the Allowance for Credit Losses | (3) Loans Held for Investment and the Allowance for Credit Losses The Company originates and acquires first mortgage and mezzanine loans secured by commercial properties. The Company considers these loans to comprise a single portfolio of mortgage loans, and the Company has developed its systematic methodology to determine the allowance for credit losses based on a single portfolio. For purposes of certain disclosures herein, the Company disaggregates this portfolio segment into the following classes of finance receivables: Senior loans; and Subordinated and Mezzanine loans. These loans can potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk as measured by various metrics, including, without limitation, property type collateralizing the loan, loan size, loans to a single sponsor and loans in a single geographic area. The Company’s loans held for investment are accounted for at amortized cost. Interest accrued but not yet collected is separately reported as accrued interest and fees receivable on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Amounts within that caption relating to loans held for investment were $14.8 million and $14.0 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company originated seven mortgage loans, with a total commitment of $482.9 million, an initial unpaid principal balance of $433.6 million, and unfunded commitments at closing of $49.3 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company originated 17 mortgage loans, with a total commitment of $1,280.7 million, an initial unpaid principal balance of $1,068.1 million, and unfunded commitments at closing of $212.6 million. The following table details overall statistics for the Company’s loans held for investment portfolio as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (dollars in thousands): September 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Balance sheet portfolio Total loan portfolio Balance sheet portfolio Total loan portfolio Number of loans 65 66 57 58 Floating rate loans 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % Total loan commitment (1) $ 5,240,569 $ 5,372,569 $ 4,943,511 $ 5,075,511 Unpaid principal balance (2) $ 4,757,397 $ 4,757,397 $ 4,524,725 $ 4,524,725 Unfunded loan commitments (3) $ 486,663 $ 486,663 $ 423,487 $ 423,487 Amortized cost $ 4,749,289 $ 4,749,289 $ 4,516,400 $ 4,516,400 Weighted average credit spread (4) 3.3 % 3.3 % 3.2 % 3.2 % Weighted average all-in yield (4) 4.9 % 4.9 % 5.3 % 5.3 % Weighted average term to extended maturity (in years) (5) 2.8 2.8 3.1 3.1 (1) In certain instances, the Company creates structural leverage through the co-origination or non-recourse syndication of a senior loan interest to a third-party. In either case, the senior mortgage loan (i.e., the non-consolidated senior interest) is not included on the Company’s balance sheet. When the Company creates structural leverage through the co-origination or non-recourse syndication of a senior loan interest to a third-party, the Company retains on its balance sheet a mezzanine loan. Total loan commitment encompasses the entire loan portfolio the Company originated, acquired and financed. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, the Company had one non-consolidated senior interest outstanding of $132.0 million. (2) Unpaid principal balance includes PIK interest of $3.5 million and $4.7 million as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. ( 3 ) Unfunded loan commitments may be funded over the term of each loan, subject in certain cases to an expiration date or a force-funding date, primarily to finance property improvements or lease-related expenditures by the Company’s borrowers, to finance operating deficits during renovation and lease-up, and in limited instances to finance construction. ( 4 ) As of September 30, 2021, all of the Company’s loans were floating rate and were indexed to LIBOR. In addition to credit spread, all-in yield includes the amortization of deferred origination fees, purchase price premium and discount if any, loan origination costs and accrual of both extension and exit fees. Credit spread and all-in yield for the total portfolio assumes the applicable floating benchmark rate as of September 30, 2021 for weighted average calculations. ( 5 ) Extended maturity assumes all extension options are exercised by the borrower; provided, however, that the Company’s loans may be repaid prior to such date. As of September 30, 2021, based on the unpaid principal balance of the Company’s total loan exposure, 25.7% of the Company’s loans were subject to yield maintenance or other prepayment restrictions and 74.3% were open to repayment by the borrower without penalty. The following tables present an overview of the Company’s loans held for investment portfolio by loan seniority as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 (dollars in thousands): September 30, 2021 Loans Held for Investment, Net Outstanding Principal Unamortized Premium (Discount) and Loan Origination Fees, net Amortized Cost Senior loans $ 4,722,397 $ (8,037 ) $ 4,714,360 Subordinated and mezzanine loans 35,000 (71 ) 34,929 Total $ 4,757,397 $ (8,108 ) $ 4,749,289 Allowance for credit losses (50,051 ) Loans held for investment, net $ 4,699,238 December 31, 2020 Loans Held for Investment, Net Outstanding Principal Unamortized Premium (Discount) and Loan Origination Fees, net Amortized Cost Senior loans $ 4,492,209 $ (8,161 ) $ 4,484,048 Subordinated and mezzanine loans 32,516 (164 ) 32,352 Total $ 4,524,725 $ (8,325 ) $ 4,516,400 Allowance for credit losses (59,940 ) Loans held for investment, net $ 4,456,460 For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company’s loans held for investment portfolio activity was as follows (dollars in thousands): Carrying value Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 4,456,460 Additions during the period: Loans originated and acquired 1,062,872 Additional fundings 111,583 Amortization of origination fees 5,448 Deductions during the period: Collection of principal (799,688 ) Loans held for sale (86,636 ) Loan sale (60,690 ) Change in allowance for credit losses 9,889 Balance as of September 30, 2021 $ 4,699,238 During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company transferred a performing hotel loan from loans held for investment to loans held for sale on its consolidated balance sheet. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had an executed purchase and sale agreement with a qualified buyer that included no significant contingencies for the sale to close. The contractual sales price for the first mortgage loan is par, or $87.1 million. As of September 30, 2021, the Company transferred $86.6 million, including the impact of $0.5 million of transaction costs, to loans held for sale on its consolidated balance sheet. As of September 30, 2021, the hotel loan had a risk rating of 4. During the three months ended June 30, 2021, the Company sold one hotel loan with an unpaid principal balance of $60.7 million for $59.5 million, resulting in a loss on sale of $1.6 million, including transaction costs of $0.4 million, As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there was $8.1 million and $8.3 million, respectively, of unamortized loan fees and discounts included in loans held for investment, net in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company did not recognize any accelerated fee component of prepayment fees during the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, and recognized $0 million and $0.3 million of such payments, respectively, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were no unamortized loan purchase discounts or premiums included in loans held for investment at amortized cost on the consolidated balance sheets. Loan Risk Rating As discussed in Note 2, the Company evaluates all of its loans to assign risk ratings on a quarterly basis. Based on a 5-point scale, the Company’s loans are rated “1” through “5,” from least risk to greatest risk, respectively, which ratings are described in Note 2. The Company generally assigns a risk rating of “3” to all loan investments originated during the most recent quarter, except in specific circumstances warranting an exception. The following tables present amortized cost basis by origination year, grouped by risk rating, as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 for the Company’s loans held for investment portfolio (dollars in thousands): September 30, 2021 Amortized cost by origination year 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 Prior Total Senior loans by internal risk ratings: 1 $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — 2 33,590 — — 52,696 — — 86,286 3 1,032,088 255,642 1,556,049 930,927 337,139 23,009 4,134,854 4 — — 198,512 46,966 216,542 — 462,020 5 — — — 31,200 — — 31,200 Total mortgage loans $ 1,065,678 $ 255,642 $ 1,754,561 $ 1,061,789 $ 553,681 $ 23,009 $ 4,714,360 Subordinated and mezzanine loans by internal risk ratings: 1 $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — 2 — — — — — — — 3 — — 34,929 — — — 34,929 4 — — — — — — — 5 — — — — — — — Total subordinated and mezzanine loans — — 34,929 — — — 34,929 Total $ 1,065,678 $ 255,642 $ 1,789,490 $ 1,061,789 $ 553,681 $ 23,009 $ 4,749,289 December 31, 2020 Amortized cost by origination year 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 Total Senior loans by internal risk ratings: 1 $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — 2 — — 337,738 — — 337,738 3 247,770 1,705,783 1,099,503 255,255 — 3,308,311 4 — 433,334 46,882 301,628 25,049 806,893 5 — — 31,106 — — 31,106 Total mortgage loans $ 247,770 $ 2,139,117 $ 1,515,229 $ 556,883 $ 25,049 $ 4,484,048 Subordinated and mezzanine loans by internal risk ratings: 1 $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — 2 — — — — — — 3 — 32,352 — — — 32,352 4 — — — — — — 5 — — — — — — Total subordinated and mezzanine loans — 32,352 — — — 32,352 Total $ 247,770 $ 2,171,469 $ 1,515,229 $ 556,883 $ 25,049 $ 4,516,400 Loans acquired rather than originated are presented in the table above in the column corresponding to the year of origination, not acquisition. The table below summarizes the amortized cost, and results of the Company’s internal risk rating review performed as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 for the Company’s loans held for investment portfolio (dollars in thousands): Rating September 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 1 $ — $ — 2 86,286 337,738 3 4,169,783 3,340,663 4 462,020 806,893 5 31,200 31,106 Total $ 4,749,289 $ 4,516,400 Allowance for credit losses (50,051 ) (59,940 ) Carrying value $ 4,699,238 $ 4,456,460 Weighted average risk rating (1) 3.1 3.1 (1) Weighted average risk rating calculated based on the amortized cost balance at period end for the Company’s loans held for investment portfolio. The amounts as of September 30, 2021 exclude one hotel loan with a risk category “4” rating that was transferred to loans held for sale at quarter end. The hotel loan that is held for sale is recorded at its sales price (par) less transaction costs, or $86.6 million. The weighted average risk rating of the Company’s loans held for investment portfolio was 3.1 as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company upgraded one hotel loan from risk category “4” to “3” because of continued improvement in property-level operating performance and positive economic trends in the local market. Additionally, the Company received full loan repayments with respect to three loans with a total unpaid principal balance of $418.1 million and a weighted average risk rating of 2.4 at June 30, 2021. The three loans were included in the Company’s multifamily and office property categories. Allowance for Credit Losses The Company’s reserve developed pursuant to ASC 326 reflects its current estimate of potential credit losses related to its loan portfolio as of September 30, 2021. As part of its allowance for credit losses, the Company maintains a separate allowance for credit losses related to unfunded loan commitments, and this amount is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. For further information on the policies that govern the estimation of the allowances for credit loss, see Note 2 The following tables present activity in the allowance for credit losses for the Company’s loans held for investment portfolio by class of finance receivable for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (dollars in thousands): For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 Senior loans Subordinated and mezzanine loans Total Allowance for credit losses for loans held for investment: CECL reserve as of July 1, 2021 $ 51,431 $ 510 $ 51,941 Credit loss expense (benefit) (1,567 ) (323 ) (1,890 ) Subtotal 49,864 187 50,051 Allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments: CECL reserve as of July 1, 2021 3,360 11 3,371 Credit loss expense (benefit) 852 694 1,546 Subtotal 4,212 705 4,917 Total allowance for credit losses $ 54,076 $ 892 $ 54,968 For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 Senior loans Subordinated and mezzanine loans Total Allowance for credit losses for loans held for investment: CECL reserve as of July 1, 2020 $ 51,557 $ 2,000 $ 53,557 Credit loss expense (benefit) 3,416 (313 ) 3,103 Subtotal 54,973 1,687 56,660 Allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments: CECL reserve as of July 1, 2020 3,618 1,500 5,118 Credit loss expense (benefit) (1,138 ) (1,311 ) (2,449 ) Subtotal 2,480 189 2,669 Total allowance for credit losses $ 57,453 $ 1,876 $ 59,329 For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Senior loans Subordinated and mezzanine loans Total Allowance for credit losses for loans held for investment: CECL reserve as of December 31, 2020 $ 58,210 $ 1,730 $ 59,940 Credit loss expense (benefit) (8,346 ) (1,543 ) (9,889 ) Subtotal 49,864 187 50,051 Allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments: CECL reserve as of December 31, 2020 2,756 132 2,888 Credit loss expense (benefit) 1,456 573 2,029 Subtotal 4,212 705 4,917 Total allowance for credit losses $ 54,076 $ 892 $ 54,968 For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 Senior loans Subordinated and mezzanine loans Total Allowance for credit losses for loans held for investment: CECL reserve as of December 31, 2019 $ — $ — $ — Cumulative-effect adjustment upon adoption of ASU 2016-13 16,903 880 17,783 Credit loss expense (benefit) 38,070 807 38,877 Subtotal 54,973 1,687 56,660 Allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments: CECL reserve as of December 31, 2019 — — — Cumulative-effect adjustment upon adoption of ASU 2016-13 1,862 — 1,862 Credit loss expense (benefit) 618 189 807 Subtotal 2,480 189 2,669 Total allowance for credit losses $ 57,453 $ 1,876 $ 59,329 The amount of allowance for credit losses is influenced by the size of the Company’s loan portfolio, loan quality, risk rating, delinquency status, historic loss experience and other conditions influencing loss expectations, such as reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded a decrease of $0.3 million to its allowance for credit losses. The decline in the Company’s allowance for credit losses was primarily due to an improving macroeconomic outlook based on recent observed economic data, improved property performance of underlying collateral for many of its loan investments that were adversely impacted by COVID-19, repayments and loan sales, a loan transferred from loans held for investment to loans held for sale, and normalizing commercial real estate capital markets activity. While the ultimate impact of these trends remains uncertain, the Company has selected its macroeconomic outlook based on this uncertainty, made specific forward-looking valuation adjustments to the inputs of its calculation of the allowance for credit losses to reflect variability regarding the timing, strength, and distribution of a sustained economic recovery, and unknown post-COVID levels of economic activity that may result. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded a decrease of $7.9 million to its allowance for credit losses, reducing its CECL reserve to $55.0 million as of September 30, 2021. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company’s estimate of expected credit losses was impacted by loan originations, sales, and repayments of $1,062.9 million One loan secured by a retail property was on non-accrual status During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company executed five loan modifications with four borrowers. As of September 30, 2021, these loans had an aggregate commitment amount of $523.2 million and an aggregate unpaid principal balance of $515.7 million. None of the loan modifications triggered the accounting requirements of a troubled debt restructuring. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company executed 12 loan modifications. As of September 30, 2021, the aggregate number of loan modifications in effect was 14 with an unpaid principal balance of $1.3 billion. Loan modifications implemented by the Company since January 1, 2021 typically involve the adjustment or waiver of property level or business plan milestones or performance tests that are prerequisite to the extension of a loan maturity, in exchange for borrower concessions that may include any or all of the following: a partial repayment of principal; termination of all or a portion of the remaining unfunded loan commitment; a cash infusion by the sponsor or borrower to replenish loan reserves (interest or capital improvements); additional call protection; and an increase in the loan coupon. Loan modifications implemented by the Company in 2020 typically involved the repurposing of existing reserves to pay interest and other property-level expenses, and providing relief to conditions for extension, such as waiving or reducing debt yield tests or modifying the conditions upon which the underlying borrower may extend the maturity date. In exchange, borrowers and sponsors made partial principal repayments and/or provided additional cash for payment of interest, operating expenses, and replenishment of interest reserves or capital reserves in amounts and combinations acceptable to the Company. The following table presents the activity in the PIK balance for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 for the Company’s loans held for investment portfolio and one loan classified as held for sale as of September 30, 2021 (dollars in thousands): Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 4,701 PIK accrued 816 PIK repayments and write-off — Balance as of March 31, 2021 $ 5,517 PIK accrued 360 PIK repayments (1,034 ) PIK write-off (690 ) Balance as of June 30, 2021 $ 4,153 PIK accrued 209 PIK repayments (871 ) PIK write-off — Balance as of September 30, 2021 $ 3,491 For the three months ended September 30, 2021, total PIK interest of $0.2 million on an existing modified loan was deferred and added to the outstanding loan principal in accordance with terms of the loan modification. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, total PIK interest of $1.4 million on two loans was deferred and added to the outstanding loan principal in accordance with terms of the loan modification. PIK interest on six loans was outstanding as of September 30, 2021. The following table presents collections of scheduled interest during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 and the three months ended June 30, 2021 and March 31, 2021: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 June 30, 2021 March 31, 2021 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Scheduled interest, including PIK 99.4 % 99.3 % 99.4 % 100.0 % 99.4 % 100.0 % PIK interest as a percentage of scheduled interest 0.7 % 1.1 % 1.2 % 2.9 % 1.0 % 1.2 % The following table presents an aging analysis for the Company’s loans held for investment portfolio by class of loans as of September 30, 2021 based on amortized cost basis (dollars in thousands): Days outstanding Current Days: 30-59 Days: 60-89 Days: 90 or more Total loans past due Total loans 90 days or more past due and accruing interest Loans Receivable: Senior loans $ 4,683,160 $ — $ — $ 31,200 $ 31,200 $ 4,714,360 $ — Subordinated and mezzanine loans 34,929 — — — — 34,929 — Total $ 4,718,089 $ — $ — $ 31,200 $ 31,200 $ 4,749,289 $ — At December 31, 2020, all loans were current. |