<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001628280-19-003838.txt : 20190730
<SEC-HEADER>0001628280-19-003838.hdr.sgml : 20190730
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20190403125808
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001628280-19-003838
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20190403

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANNALY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001043219
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				223479661
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1211 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212 696 0100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1211 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10036

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ANNALY MORTGAGE MANAGEMENT INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970729
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
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<div><a name="sAD74E7D0199221DF6E5DE38B3743067E"></a></div><div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:8px;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;text-decoration:underline;">April 3, 2019</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:8px;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:8px;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;text-decoration:underline;">VIA EDGAR</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:8px;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Wilson K. Lee</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;<br></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Senior Staff Accountant <br>Division of Corporation Finance <br>Office of Real Estate and Commodities <br>U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission <br>100 F Street, NE <br>Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-bottom:8px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:96px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:130%;font-size:11pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Re:</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:130%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Annaly Capital Management, Inc.  <br>Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 <br>Filed February 15, 2019 <br>File No. 001-13447</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:130%;padding-bottom:8px;text-align:left;padding-left:96px;text-indent:312px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:8px;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Dear Mr. Lee:</font></div><div style="line-height:130%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">On behalf of Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (the &#8220;Company&#8221; or &#8220;Annaly&#8221;) set forth below are our responses to the comments of the Staff  (the &#8220;Staff&#8221;) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) set forth in your letter, dated March 20, 2019, with respect to our Form 10-K (File No. 001-13447), filed on February 15, 2019.</font></div><div style="line-height:130%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">For the Staff&#8217;s convenience, the text of the Staff&#8217;s comments is set forth below in bold, followed in each case by the Company&#8217;s response.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:justify;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;text-decoration:underline;">FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;text-decoration:underline;">Item 7. Management&#8217;s Discussion and Analysis <br>Non-GAAP Financial Measures, page 55</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:130%;font-size:11pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">1.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:130%;text-align:justify;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">We note that beginning with the three months ended March 31, 2018 you revised your calculation of economic interest expense and economic net interest income (excluding PAA) to reflect the net interest component of all interest rate swaps. It appears that this change was caused by changes to your hedging portfolio. Please tell us how your hedging portfolio has changed and explain why these changes resulted in the change to your calculation of economic interest expense and economic net interest income (excluding PAA).</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:130%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:justify;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Response</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">:  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">In response to the Staff&#8217;s comment, prior to the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company employed two distinct hedging strategies and separate portfolios of interest rate swaps for the purposes of (a) managing its exposure to changing interest rates on its liabilities, primarily comprised of repurchase agreements, and (b) economically hedging interest rate risk related to its to-be-announced (&#8220;TBA&#8221;) dollar roll transactions. During that period, the Company&#8217;s calculations of economic interest expense and economic net interest income (excluding PAA) reflected only the net interest component of interest rate swaps used to hedge the cost of the Company&#8217;s liabilities (cost of funds) as these measures are intended to reflect the total contractual expense associated with the Company&#8217;s liabilities. The net interest component of interest rate </font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">1</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:130%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:justify;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">swaps used to hedge the Company&#8217;s TBA dollar roll transactions was not reflected in economic interest expense and economic net interest income (excluding PAA) because the interest expense associated with these interest rate swaps was unrelated to the interest expense incurred on the Company&#8217;s liabilities. For example, for the three months ended December 31, 2017, the Company reported total net interest component of interest rate swaps representing a cost of $82.3 million, of which $8.3 million was attributable to interest rate swaps used to hedge TBA dollar roll transactions and therefore was not reflected in economic interest expense and economic net interest income (excluding PAA). </font></div><div style="line-height:130%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">As disclosed in the Company&#8217;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company made changes to its hedging portfolio during that period. While the Company increased the notional balance of its interest rate swaps portfolio to $66.0 billion as of March 31, 2018 compared to $35.3 billion as of December 31, 2017, importantly, the Company shifted its hedging strategy to manage its risks and exposures more holistically and to afford the Company greater flexibility to enter into and exit from interest rate swaps during periods of market volatility such that the Company no longer maintained separate portfolios of interest rate swaps. As a result, the Company ceased to differentiate between the costs of its interest rate swaps across its hedging strategies and, consequently, modified its calculations of economic interest expense and economic net interest income (excluding PAA) to include interest expense on all interest rate swaps. For example, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, economic interest expense of $415.6 million was calculated as the sum of GAAP interest expense of $367.4 million plus interest expense on all interest rate swaps of $48.2 million. The Company also advises the Staff that, in connection with the aforementioned changes to its hedging portfolio, no changes were made to the Company&#8217;s accounting for interest rate swaps in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;text-decoration:underline;">Note 10. Derivative Instruments, page F-24</font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:130%;font-size:11pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">2.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:130%;text-align:justify;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Please tell us whether you have entered into any market agreed coupon (&#8220;MAC&#8221;) interest rate swaps. To the extent you have entered into MAC interest rate swaps, please quantify your exposure and clarify how you are accounting for such swaps. Your response should quantify total current notional separated by tiers of maturity, amounts paid/received to compensate for the off-market nature of such interest rate swaps and your accounting treatment should be supported by the GAAP accounting literature relied upon.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:130%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:130%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Response</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">:  </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">In response to the Staff&#8217;s comment, the Company confirms it has entered into MAC interest rate swaps. The following table summarizes certain characteristics of the Company&#8217;s MAC interest rate swaps as of December 31, 2018:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:82.90598290598291%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="13"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:31%;"></td><td style="width:3%;"></td><td style="width:1%;"></td><td style="width:18%;"></td><td style="width:1%;"></td><td style="width:3%;"></td><td style="width:1%;"></td><td style="width:18%;"></td><td style="width:1%;"></td><td style="width:3%;"></td><td style="width:1%;"></td><td style="width:18%;"></td><td style="width:1%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Maturity</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Current Notional</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Upfront Payment</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><sup style="vertical-align:top;line-height:120%;font-size:7pt">(1)</sup></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Fair Value</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><sup style="vertical-align:top;line-height:120%;font-size:7pt">(2)</sup></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="7" style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-style:italic;">dollars in thousands</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="3" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">0 &#8211; 3 years</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">$33,587,000</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">$275,783</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">$311,080</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">3 &#8211; 6 years</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">3,346,000</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">47,928</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">77,275</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">6 &#8211; 10 years</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">4,635,000</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">141,378</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">68,862</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Greater than 10 years</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">-</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">-</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">-</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Total</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:3px double #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px double #000000;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">$41,568,000</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:3px double #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:3px double #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px double #000000;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">$465,089</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:3px double #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:3px double #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px double #000000;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">$457,217</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:3px double #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">2</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div></div><div><br></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:130%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">(1)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:130%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">At December 31, 2018, all of the Company&#8217;s MAC interest rate swaps required the Company to make an upfront payment at inception. There were no MAC interest rate swaps for which the Company received an upfront payment at inception.</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:130%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">(2)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:130%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Amounts are presented gross and therefore are not net of variation margin pledged under such transactions.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:130%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">The Company accounts for MAC interest rate swaps as derivatives in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 815 Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815). Specifically, a MAC interest rate swap meets the characteristics of a derivative instrument in paragraph 815-10-15-83(a) because it has an underlying and an effective notional amount.  It also meets the characteristics of a derivative in paragraph 815-10-15-83(b) as the initial net investment is less, by more than a nominal amount, than the amount determined by applying the effective notional to the underlying.  Finally, a MAC interest rate swap meets the characteristics of a derivative instrument in paragraph 815-10-15-83(c) because neither party is required to deliver an asset that is associated with the underlying and the contract terms permit net settlement. As such, the Company accounts for MAC interest rate swaps as derivatives. The upfront amount paid or received represents the fair value of a MAC interest rate swap at its inception. Subsequent changes in fair value from inception are reflected in &#8220;Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps&#8221; on the Company&#8217;s Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss). </font></div><div style="line-height:130%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;padding-top:16px;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">* * * * *</font></div><div style="line-height:130%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">We hope that the foregoing has been responsive to the Staff&#8217;s comments.  If you have any questions or comments regarding the foregoing, please do not hesitate to contact me at (212) 696-0100 or by email at gvotek@annaly.com or Anthony Green at (212) 696-0100 or by email at agreen@annaly.com.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;padding-left:360px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;padding-left:360px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Sincerely,</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;padding-left:360px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">/s/ Glenn A. Votek</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;padding-left:360px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Glenn A. Votek</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;padding-left:360px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Chief Financial Officer</font></div><div style="line-height:130%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;text-indent:-48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:130%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;text-indent:-48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:130%;font-size:11pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">cc:</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:130%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Anthony Green, Annaly Capital Management, Inc.</font></div></td></tr></table><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">3</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div></div>	</body>
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