DEF 14A 1 proxy2012.htm PROXY
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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Dynex Capital, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Dynex Capital, Inc.

Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
and
Proxy Statement

Annual Meeting of Shareholders
May 14, 2012

DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
April 3, 2012
To Our Shareholders:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Dynex Capital, Inc. (the “Company”) to be held at The Stanford Court Renaissance Hotel located at 905 California Street, San Francisco, California on Monday, May 14, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
The business of the meeting is to consider and act upon the election of directors, to approve, in an advisory and non-binding vote, the compensation of our executive officers, and to ratify the selection of the auditors of the Company.
As permitted by rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we are furnishing our proxy statement, 2011 Annual Report to Shareholders and proxy card over the Internet to most of our shareholders. This means that most of our shareholders will initially receive only a notice containing instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the Internet. This approach allows us to lower the costs of delivering the annual meeting materials and reduce the environmental impact of the meeting. If you would like to receive a paper copy of the proxy materials, the notice contains instructions on how you can request copies of these documents.
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, your vote is important and we encourage you to vote promptly. You may vote your shares via a toll-free telephone number or over the Internet. If you request to receive your proxy materials by mail, you may sign, date and mail the proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. Instructions regarding all three methods of voting are contained in the proxy card. If you mail the proxy card and desire to vote your shares of common stock in accordance with management's recommendations, you need not mark your votes on the proxy but need only sign, date and return the proxy card in the envelope provided in order to record your vote.
Sincerely,
Thomas B. Akin
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer

DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
4991 Lake Brook Drive, Suite 100
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
(804) 217-5800
____________________________
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Our Shareholders:
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Dynex Capital, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held at The Stanford Court Renaissance Hotel located at 905 California Street, San Francisco, California on Monday, May 14, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, to consider and act upon the following matters:

1. | To elect six (6) directors of the Company, to hold office until the next annual meeting and until their successors are elected and duly qualified; and

2. | To approve, in an advisory and non-binding vote, the compensation of the Company's named executive officers as disclosed in the accompanying Proxy Statement; and

3. | To vote on the ratification of the selection of BDO USA, LLP, independent certified public accountants, as auditors for the Company for the 2012 fiscal year; and

4. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 15, 2012, the record date, will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Management desires to have maximum representation at the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, we urge you to vote your shares via the toll-free telephone number or over the Internet, as described in the accompanying Proxy Statement. If you receive these materials by mail, you may sign, date and mail the proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. A proxy may be revoked by a shareholder at any time prior to its use by notice in writing to the Secretary of the Company, by submitting a later-dated proxy to the Secretary of the Company, by changing your vote via the toll-free telephone number or over the Internet or by attending the Annual Meeting and requesting to vote in person (provided that, if you hold your shares through a bank, broker or other holder of record and you wish to vote in person, you must bring a legal proxy or broker's proxy card to the meeting as proof of your authority to vote the shares).
By Order of the Board of Directors
Stephen J. Benedetti
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Secretary
Dated: April 3, 2012

DYNEX CAPITAL, INC.
4991 Lake Brook Drive, Suite 100
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
(804) 217-5800
____________________________
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
May 14, 2012
To Our Shareholders:
This Proxy Statement is furnished to the holders of the common stock (“Common Stock”) of Dynex Capital, Inc. (the “Company”) in connection with the solicitation by the Company's Board of Directors of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held at The Stanford Court Renaissance Hotel located at 905 California Street, San Francisco, California on Monday, May 14, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting is being held for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
As permitted by rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), the Company is making this Proxy Statement and its 2011 Annual Report to Shareholders available to most of our shareholders electronically via the Internet. On April 3, 2012, we commenced mailing to our shareholders a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials containing instructions on how to access this Proxy Statement and our Annual Report and vote over the Internet. Most shareholders will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials in the mail, unless specifically requested. Instead, the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials instructs you on how to access and review over the Internet all of the important information contained in the Proxy Statement and Annual Report and on how you may submit your proxy over the Internet. If you would like to receive a printed copy of our proxy materials, you should follow the instructions for requesting such materials included in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials.
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to Be Held on Monday, May 14, 2012
The Proxy Statement and 2011 Annual Report to Shareholders are available on the internet at:
www.proxyvoting.com/dx.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Solicitation
You have received these proxy materials because the Company's Board of Directors is soliciting your proxy to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting. The costs of this solicitation will be borne by the Company. Proxy solicitations will be made by the Internet and the mail, and also may be made by personal interview, telephone and e-mail by directors and officers of the Company, acting without compensation other than their regular compensation. Brokerage houses and nominees will be requested to forward the proxy soliciting material to the beneficial owners of shares of Common Stock and to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies. The Company will, upon request, reimburse such parties for their reasonable expenses in forwarding these proxy materials to such beneficial owners.
Voting Rights
Holders of shares of Common Stock at the close of business on March 15, 2012, the record date, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. On that date, 54,326,936 shares of Common Stock were outstanding, with each outstanding share
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of Common Stock entitled to one vote for each of the six directors nominated to be elected and one vote on each other matter presented at the Annual Meeting.
Quorum
The presence in person or by proxy of shareholders entitled to vote a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock will constitute a quorum for all matters presented at the Annual Meeting. Shares represented by proxy or in person at the Annual Meeting, including shares represented by proxies that reflect abstentions, will be counted as present in the determination of a quorum. An abstention as to any particular matter, however, does not constitute a vote “for” or “against” such matter. “Broker non-votes” (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees as to which (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owner or the persons entitled to vote the shares, and (ii) the broker does not have discretionary voting power on a particular matter) will be treated in the same manner as abstentions.
Vote Required
With regard to the election of Directors, votes may be cast in favor or withheld. If a quorum is present, the directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in the election of Directors; therefore, abstentions, broker non-votes or withheld votes will have no effect on the outcome of the election.
For all other proposals, votes may be cast in favor or against, or you may abstain from voting. For these proposals, including the advisory vote to approve the compensation of the Company's named executive officers and ratification of the selection of BDO USA, LLP as the Company's auditors for the 2012 fiscal year, if a quorum is present, such proposal will be approved if the votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast against the proposal. Abstentions or broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of any such proposals.
Information about Voting
You will receive multiple Notices of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or printed copies of the proxy materials if you hold your shares in different ways (e.g., joint tenancy, trusts, custodial accounts, etc.) or in multiple accounts. You should vote the shares represented by each Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card you receive to ensure that all of your shares are voted.
Shareholders of record can vote in person at the Annual Meeting or by proxy. There are three ways for shareholders of record to vote by proxy:

• | By Telephone - you can vote by telephone by calling the toll free telephone number on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card and following the instructions (you will need the control number on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card);

• | By Internet - you can vote over the Internet by following the instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card (you will need the control number on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card); or

• | By Mail - if you received these proxy materials by mail, you can vote by mail by signing, dating and mailing the proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided.

Telephone and Internet voting for shareholders of record will be available 24 hours a day and will close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 11, 2012. If you hold shares in the Dynex Capital, Inc. 401(k) Plan, your voting instructions for those shares must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 10, 2012 to allow sufficient time for voting by the trustee of the plan.
If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, you will receive voting instructions from the holder of record. You must follow the instructions of the holder of record in order for your shares to be voted. Telephone and Internet voting also will be offered to shareholders owning shares through certain banks and brokers.
Revocability of Proxy
If you are a shareholder of record, you may change or revoke your proxy at any time before your shares are voted at the Annual Meeting, by any of the following methods:
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• | By submitting a written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company by the close of business on May 11, 2012;

• | By submitting by the close of business on May 11, 2012 a completed proxy card bearing a later date than any other proxy submitted by you;

• | By calling the toll free telephone number on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card and following the instructions (you will need the control number on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card) by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 11, 2012;

• | By visiting the web page listed on the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card and following the instructions (you will need the control number on your Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials or proxy card) by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 11, 2012; or

• | By attending the Annual Meeting and requesting to vote in person.

Your latest proxy card, telephone vote, or Internet proxy with respect to the same shares is the one that will be counted.
If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, you should contact the holder of record to change your vote.
Voting your shares by telephone or over the Internet or sending in a proxy card will not affect your right to attend the Annual Meeting and to vote in person. However, if your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record and you plan to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you should contact your broker or agent to obtain a legal proxy or broker's proxy card to bring to the Annual Meeting as proof of your authority to vote the shares.
If you vote in time for the Annual Meeting using the proxy, the individuals named on the proxy (your “proxies”) will vote your shares of Common Stock in accordance with the choices you specified. If you properly submit a proxy without indicating your instructions, the shares of Common Stock represented by such proxy will be voted FOR the election of the nominees named in this Proxy Statement as directors, FOR the approval of the compensation of the Company's named executive officers, and FOR ratification of the selection of BDO USA, LLP as the Company's auditors for the 2012 fiscal year.
Directions to Annual Meeting
Directions to attend the Annual Meeting, where you may vote in person, can be found on our web page, www.dynexcapital.com under “Investor Relations”, or may be obtained by calling Investor Relations at (804) 217-5897.
Other Matters
The management and the Board of Directors of the Company know of no other matters to come before the Annual Meeting other than those stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders. However, if any other matters are properly presented to the shareholders for action, it is the intention of the individuals named in the proxy to vote in their discretion on all matters on which the shares represented by such proxy are entitled to vote.
Annual Report on Form 10-K
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, including financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011, which is available on the Internet as set forth in the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials and is being mailed together with this Proxy Statement to shareholders who receive the proxy materials by mail, contains financial and other information about the activities of the Company, but is not incorporated into this Proxy Statement and is not to be considered a part of these proxy soliciting materials.
PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
General
Pursuant to Virginia law and our Articles of Incorporation, directors of the Company are to be elected by the holders of shares of Common Stock at the Annual Meeting to serve until the next annual meeting and until their successors are elected and duly qualified. On the recommendation of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, the Board of Directors has nominated Thomas B. Akin, Byron L. Boston, Michael R. Hughes, Barry Igdaloff, Daniel K. Osborne and James C. Wheat, III for election
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by the holders of shares of Common Stock to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. Unless otherwise indicated, a proxy will be voted FOR the election of Messrs. Akin, Boston, Hughes, Igdaloff, Osborne and Wheat to the Board of Directors. Each Director nominee has agreed to serve if elected. Selected biographical information regarding each Director nominee is set forth below.
Although it is anticipated that each Director nominee will be able to serve, should any nominee become unavailable to serve, the shares represented by each proxy will be voted for another person or persons designated by the Company's Board of Directors. In no event will a proxy be voted for more than six Directors.
Board of Directors Nominees
The following information sets forth as of March 21, 2012, the names, ages, principal occupations and business experience for the Company's Director nominees. In addition to the information presented below regarding each Director nominee's specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led our Board to the conclusion that he should serve as a director, we also believe that all of our Director nominees have a reputation for integrity, honesty and adherence to high ethical standards. They each have demonstrated business acumen and an ability to exercise sound judgment, as well as a commitment of service to the Company and our Board. Finally, we value their significant experience on other public company boards of directors and board committees. Unless otherwise indicated, the business experience and principal occupations shown for each director has extended five or more years.
Thomas B. Akin (59) has been a director of Dynex Capital, Inc. since May 2003, Chairman since May 30, 2005, and on February 4, 2008 accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Akin also founded and has served as the managing member of Talkot Capital, LLC, which is the sole general partner of the Talkot Fund, L.P., located in Sausalito, California since 1995. Mr. Akin is also a limited partner of the Talkot Fund, L.P. From 1981 to 1994, Mr. Akin held various positions at Merrill Lynch Institutional Services. Prior to Merrill Lynch, Mr. Akin was an employee of Salomon Brothers from 1978 to 1981. Mr. Akin currently serves on the board of See Kai Run. Mr. Akin previously served on the boards of Acacia Research Corporation, Advance Data Exchange, Centriv Services, Inc., CombiMatrix Corporation, and eFAX.com (including as Chairman of the Board of Centiv Services, Inc., CombiMatrix Corporation, and eFAX.com). Mr. Akin holds a B.A. from the University of California at Santa Cruz and an M.B.A. from the Anderson School of Management, UCLA.
We believe Mr. Akin's qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his extensive background in evaluating investments in private and public companies, including 30 years of experience in the financial and investment industries. Mr. Akin has significant experience in investing in mortgage REITs through his experience as managing member at Talkot Capital. Mr. Akin also has experience managing and advising organizations which have special investment needs. Mr. Akin's significant service as a director of several other companies also demonstrates that he has the leadership skills required to serve as Chairman of the Company.
Byron L. Boston (53) became a director of the Company in March 2012. Since March 1, 2012, he has served as President and Chief Investment Officer, having held the position of Chief Investment Officer since April 2008. From November 2006 to April 2008, Mr. Boston was the President of Boston Consulting Group, which provided advice on business strategies for its clients. From January 2004 to October 2006, Mr. Boston was Executive Vice President of Sunset Financial Resources, Inc. Prior to this, Mr. Boston was a senior officer for the Freddie Mac Corporation from 1997 to 2003. From 1981 to 1997, Mr. Boston held banking and trading positions at New York investment banking firms. Mr. Boston holds an A.B. in Economics and Government from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago.
We believe Mr. Boston's qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his background as Chief Investment Officer of the Company, as well as his eight years of experience with REIT investments, his leadership positions at the Freddie Mac Corporation and Sunset Financial Resources, Inc., and his Wall Street credit and capital markets experience. These experiences allow Mr. Boston to offer a different perspective on the Company's current and future business operations regarding investments, which is valuable resource for our Board of Directors.
Michael R. Hughes (51) became a director of the Company in November 2010. Mr. Hughes is currently an analyst at Ascend Capital Management and serves as the President of the Board of Trustees of the Bentley School in Oakland, California. Prior to beginning his position at Ascend Capital Management in 2012 and at the Bentley School in 2009, Mr. Hughes was a partner and portfolio manager of Osterweis Capital Management from 2005 to 2008. From 1989 to 2005, Mr. Hughes was the First Vice President of Merrill Lynch Financial Institutions Research. Mr. Hughes began his career as an equity analyst at Dean Witter Reynolds in 1986. Mr. Hughes serves as the Chairman of the Compensation Committee and as a member of the Nominating &
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Corporate Governance Committee for the Company. Mr. Hughes holds an A.B. from the University of California at Berkley in Geophysics. Mr. Hughes was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1991.
We believe Mr. Hughes' qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his background as a portfolio manager of financial institutions, as well as his extensive experience as a securities analyst overseeing equity analysis for mortgage companies, mortgage REITs, consumer and commercial finance, and government agencies including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These experiences, coupled with Mr. Hughes' substantial financial expertise, allow him to offer significant insights and advice, thus making him a valuable addition to our Board.
Barry A. Igdaloff (57) has been a director of the Company since 2000. Mr. Igdaloff has been a registered investment advisor and the sole proprietor of Rose Capital in Columbus, Ohio, since 1995. Mr. Igdaloff graduated from Indiana University in 1976 with a B.S.B. in accounting and from The Ohio State University in 1978, with a Juris Doctorate degree. Mr. Igdaloff is a non-practicing certified public accountant and a non-practicing attorney. Mr. Igdaloff currently serves on the Board of Directors of Nova Star Financial, Inc. and serves on its audit committee. Previously, Mr. Igdaloff served on the board of Guest Supply, Inc. Mr. Igdaloff serves as a member of the Audit Committee and the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee for the Company.
We believe Mr. Igdaloff's qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his financial expertise and his years of experience as an investment advisor, attorney, and accountant. Investment, legal, and accounting issues impact the Company in various ways, and Mr. Igdaloff's ability to draw on his experience in these professions allows him to contribute a unique perspective to the Board of Directors. In addition, as a result of his financial expertise and prior audit committee service, Mr. Igdaloff provides valuable insight and advice to our Board of Directors regarding our financial risk exposures and financial reporting matters.
Daniel K. Osborne (47) has been a director of the Company since 2005. Mr. Osborne has been Managing Member of Vantage Pointe Capital, LLC, an investment advisory firm that serves as the general partner of Vantage Pointe Capital Partners LP, and provides research and other services to various private investment funds. Prior to founding Vantage Pointe Capital, LLC in 2003, Mr. Osborne was a co-founder of Apex Mortgage Capital, Inc. He was Apex Mortgage Capital's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer from September 1997 to September 2001. Concurrently with his role with Apex Mortgage Capital, Inc., Mr. Osborne was a Managing Director of Trust Company of The West from July 1994 to December 2001. From January 2010 to December 2011, Mr. Osborne served on the Board of Directors of New York Mortgage Trust, Inc. based in New York, New York. Mr. Osborne serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Compensation Committee for the Company. Mr. Osborne began his career with Deloitte & Touche, LLP. He holds a B.S. degree in accounting from Arizona State University.
We believe Mr. Osborne's qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his financial and operational experience with mortgage REITs, as well as his public accounting expertise with a top accounting firm. Through his accounting experience, Mr. Osborne is able to assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility with respect to financial matters. In addition, Mr. Osborne has substantial investment advisory experience, which allows him to offer valuable insight into our investment strategies.
James C. Wheat, III (59) joined the Board of Directors in August 2008. Mr. Wheat is the co-founder and managing director of Colonnade Capital Corporation, a private equity firm dedicated to sponsoring friendly growth buyouts of middle market companies. Since 1995, Mr. Wheat has also been the manager of Jasper, LLC, an investment firm investing in publicly traded securities, hedge funds, private equity and debt, and real estate, and has been the manager of Blandfield Associates, LLC, a timberland and working farm, since 1992. In addition, Mr. Wheat has been a general partner of Riverfront Partners since 1992. Mr. Wheat was the Chairman of the Virginia Retirement System from 1997 to 2000. He was the managing director and a member of the board of directors of Wachovia Securities (formerly Wheat First Securities) from 1984 to 1993. Mr. Wheat serves as the Chairman of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee for the Company. Mr. Wheat earned a B.A. from Hampden-Sydney College in 1975 and an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia in 1978.
We believe Mr. Wheat's background as a managing director and board member of financial services companies provides him the necessary depth of experience to implement our business strategy as a member of our Board of Directors. In addition, as a result of his entrepreneurial and management experience, Mr. Wheat has developed operational and organizational acumen, which is a valuable resource for our Board of Directors.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.
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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
General
The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors in accordance with the Virginia Stock Corporation Act and the Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Members of the Board are kept informed of the Company's business through discussions with the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them and by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees. The corporate governance practices followed by the Company are summarized below.
Director Independence
The Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that set forth the practices of the Board with respect to its size, criteria for membership and selection to the Board, committees of the Board, meetings and access to management, director compensation, director orientation and continuing education, annual performance evaluation of the Board, director responsibilities, annual review of performance of the Chief Executive Officer and management succession and ethics and conduct. The Guidelines are available on the Company's web page at www.dynexcapital.com under “Investor Relations - Corporate Governance.” A printed copy is available to any shareholder upon written request to the Secretary of the Company, 4991 Lake Brook Drive, Suite 100, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060.
The Board of Directors in its business judgment has determined that Messrs. Hughes, Igdaloff, Osborne and Wheat are independent as defined by New York Stock Exchange listing standards. In reaching this conclusion, the Board considered whether the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business and have other relationships with organizations of which certain members of the Board or members of their immediate families are or were directors or officers. In addition, the Board considered all relevant facts and circumstances, including relationships that a director may have due to his status as an investor in an entity that may have a relationship with the Company. In determining the independence of each director, the Board considered that Mr. Hughes and Mr. Wheat are investors in the Talkot Fund, L.P., of which Mr. Akin is the managing general partner and a limited partner, and determined, partly due to the passive nature of the investment, that these relationships are not material to the evaluation and do not impair the ability of Mr. Hughes or Mr. Wheat to exercise independent judgment. Mr. Akin as Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Boston as President and Chief Investment Officer are not considered independent directors.
Consistent with the New York Stock Exchange listing standards, the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines establish categorical standards under which, except with respect to members of the Audit Committee, the following relationships between a non-employee director and the Company will not be considered to be material:

• | if during any twelve month period within the last three years, the director or any immediate family member of the director received $120,000 or less in direct compensation from the Company, excluding director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service);

• | if during each of the current fiscal year and three most recent fiscal years, the director is, or was, an executive officer or an employee (or has, or had, an immediate family member who is, or was, an executive officer) of another company that made payments to, or received payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount which, in each of the last three fiscal years, did not exceed the greater of $1 million or 2% of such other company's consolidated gross revenues; or

• | if the director serves as an executive officer of a charitable organization to which the Company made charitable contributions that did not exceed the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such charitable organization's consolidated gross revenues in each of the last three fiscal years.

None of the Company's directors, their immediate family members, or organizations in which they are a partner, shareholder or officer, are engaged in any relationships with the Company, except Mr. Akin as Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Boston as President and Chief Investment Officer.
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Code of Ethics
The Board of Directors has approved a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for directors, officers and employees of the Company and each of its subsidiaries, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Code addresses such topics as compliance with applicable laws, conflicts of interest, use and protection of Company assets, confidentiality, dealings with the press and communications with the public, accounting and financial reporting matters, fair dealing, discrimination and harassment and health and safety. It is available on the Company's web page at www.dynexcapital.com under “Investor Relations - Corporate Governance”. A printed copy of the Code is available to any shareholder upon written request to the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth above.
We intend to provide any required disclosure of an amendment to or waiver from the Code that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, on the Company's web page at www.dynexcapital.com under “Investor Relations- Corporate Governance” promptly following the amendment or waiver. We may elect to disclose any such amendment or waiver in a report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC either in addition to or in lieu of the web page disclosure.
Board and Committee Meeting Attendance
In 2011, there were five meetings of the Board of Directors. Each director attended 90% or more of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and of the committees on which he served.
Board Leadership Structure
The Company's Chairman of the Board also serves as the Chief Executive Officer. Therefore, under the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Company has designated a Lead Independent Director to serve as Chairman of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, to assist the Chairman of the Board with Board-related matters, and to act, as necessary, as a liaison between the independent directors and the Chairman of the Board. The Lead Independent Director also presides at all executive sessions and other meetings of non-employee directors and has the power to call meetings of non-employee directors. In addition, the Lead Independent Director provides input to the Chairman of the Board in determining the agenda for each Board meeting. The Company believes that, at this time, having one person serve as both Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board demonstrates to its employees and shareholders that the Company is under strong leadership. The Board of Directors annually reviews the Company's corporate governance structure to ensure that it remains the most appropriate structure for the Company and its shareholders. The Company believes that, at this time, its leadership structure enables the single leader of both management and the Board to lead the Company through the current challenging economic times, with appropriate support from the Lead Independent Director and the committee chairmen, each of whom is an independent director.
Board Oversight of Risk Management
The Company believes that its leadership structure allows the directors to provide effective oversight of risk management by receiving risk assessments prepared by individuals responsible for risk management. The Audit Committee, comprised solely of independent directors, discusses with management, the independent auditor and the internal auditor the Company's policies and practices with respect to risk assessment and risk management. In addition, the Board has an Investment Committee which as part of it function reviews risk reports with management on a quarterly basis. The investment policy of the Company includes risk limits for the Company including notification requirements to the Board if these risk limits are approached or exceeded. Management reviews these risk limits with the Investment Committee generally quarterly.
The directors are expected to apply themselves to understanding the Company's business and its significant risks as circumstances warrant, the directors receive presentations from senior management regarding the Company's risk profile and its risk management strategies. The Company believes that this leadership structure promotes effective Board oversight of risk management because, while there is a single leader ultimately accountable for the management of the Company's risks, a Board committee comprised solely of independent directors actively monitors the Company's policies and practices with respect to risk assessment and risk management, and the directors are provided with the information necessary to evaluate the Company's significant risks and strategies for addressing them.
Executive Sessions
Executive sessions where non-employee directors meet on an informal basis are scheduled either before or after regularly scheduled Board meetings. At least once a year the Board schedules an executive session including only independent directors. Such sessions are chaired by the Lead Independent Director who by operation of our Corporate Governance Guidelines is the
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Chairman of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Wheat is currently the Lead Independent Director and serves as chairman for executive sessions.
Communications with Directors
Any director may be contacted by writing to him c/o the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth on the first page of this Proxy Statement. Communications to the non-management directors as a group may be sent to the Lead Independent Director c/o the Secretary of the Company at the same address. The Company promptly forwards, without screening, any correspondence to a specified director to such director.
Committees of the Board
The Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee. The Board also has established an Investment Committee, which is not considered a standing committee of the Board.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling the Board's oversight responsibility to the shareholders relating to the integrity of the Company's financial statements, the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the qualifications, independence and performance of the Company's independent auditor and the performance of the internal audit function. The Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the independent auditor engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attestation services for the Company. The Committee operates under a written charter last amended by the Board in March 2012. The Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company's web page at www.dynexcapital.com under “Investor Relations - Corporate Governance.” A printed copy is available to any shareholder upon written request to the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth above.
The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Osborne (Chairman), Igdaloff, and Wheat, all of whom the Board in its business judgment has determined are independent as defined by regulations of the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange listing standards. The Board of Directors also has determined that all of the Committee members are financially literate as such term is used in the New York Stock Exchange listing standards and that Messrs. Osborne and Igdaloff qualify as audit committee financial experts as defined by regulations of the SEC. The Audit Committee met seven times in 2011. For additional information regarding the Committee, see “Audit Information - Audit Committee Report” on page 36 of this Proxy Statement.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee performs the responsibilities of the Board of Directors relating to compensation of the Company's executives. The Committee's responsibilities include reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to compensation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer, evaluating the Chief Executive Officer's performance annually in light of those goals and objectives and determining and approving the Chief Executive Officer's compensation level based on this evaluation; reviewing and approving the compensation for executive officers, including their corporate goals and objectives; reviewing and discussing the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by the rules of the SEC with senior management and based upon such review and discussion, recommending to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K or proxy statement, as applicable; producing a Compensation Committee Report as required by the rules of the SEC to be included in the Company's annual proxy statement; overseeing an annual review of the Company's policies and practices of compensating its employees, including non-executive officers, as they relate to risk management practices and risk-taking incentives, and, based on the review, making any changes to such policies and practices that the Committee deems to be appropriate; reviewing and recommending to the Board for approval any employment-related agreement or other compensation arrangement, or transaction with senior management; making recommendations to the Board with respect to annual and long-term incentive compensation and equity-based plans; administering the Company's equity-based, deferral and other compensation plans approved by the Board from time to time; reviewing any significant changes in the Company's tax-qualified employee benefit plans; recommending to the Board for approval director compensation; and reviewing annually with the Chief Executive Officer management succession planning and management development activities and strategies. The Committee has not in the past delegated the authorities granted it under its written charter given that it has typically consisted of four or fewer members. In discharging its responsibilities with respect to compensation matters, the Committee has not solicited the input of consultants. Rather, management of the Company, at the Committee's request, will periodically conduct reviews of the compensation practices of similar public companies. See further discussion at “Executive Compensation - Compensation Discussion and Analysis” on page 16 of this Proxy Statement. The Compensation Committee is currently formulating its plans with respect to succession planning. No timetable has been set for determining succession planning. The Committee operates
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under a written charter last amended by the Board in March 2012. The Charter of the Compensation Committee is available on the Company's web page at www.dynexcapital.com under “Investor Relations - Corporate Governance.” A printed copy is available to any shareholder upon written request to the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth above.
The members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Hughes (Chairman), Osborne, and Wheat, all of whom the Board in its business judgment has determined are independent as defined by the New York Stock Exchange listing standards. The Committee met four times in 2011. For additional information regarding the Committee, see “Executive Compensation - Compensation Discussion and Analysis” on page 16 of this Proxy Statement.
Analysis of Risk Associated with Compensation Policies and Practices
The Compensation Committee oversees an annual review of our compensation programs to determine whether such programs encourage excessive risk taking by our employees. Our most recent review was conducted in March 2012. Management and the Compensation Committee participated in the review, which included identification of the relevant compensation policies and practices, review of potential related risks, and analysis of risk-mitigating factors, including the Company's system of internal controls and oversight. The Compensation Committee determined that the potential risks arising from our compensation programs are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. This determination has taken into account the structure of our compensation programs, the amount of cash compensation available to executive employees, and the involvement of the Compensation Committee in setting compensation for executive officers and in particular for those individuals who can commit the Company's capital and the oversight of the Board of Directors in monitoring certain risk tolerances and internal controls..
Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee develops qualifications for director candidates, recommends to the Board of Directors persons to be nominated to serve as directors of the Company and monitors developments in, and makes recommendations to the Board concerning, corporate governance practices. The Committee also acts as the Company's nominating committee. The Committee operates under a written charter last amended by the Board in March 2010. The Charter of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee is available on the Company's web page at www.dynexcapital.com under “Investor Relations - Corporate Governance.” A printed copy is available to any shareholder upon written request to the Secretary of the Company at the address set forth above.
The members of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Wheat (Chairman), Igdaloff, and Hughes, all of whom the Board in its business judgment has determined are independent as defined by the New York Stock Exchange listing standards. The Committee met once in 2011.
The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee considers candidates for the Board based upon several criteria, including but not limited to their broad-based business and professional skills and experience, concern for the long-term interest of the Company's shareholders, personal integrity and judgment, and knowledge and experience in the Company's industry. The Committee further considers each candidate's independence, as defined by the New York Stock Exchange listing standards. All candidates must have time available to devote to Board duties and responsibilities.
The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee utilizes a variety of methods for identifying and evaluating nominees for director. The Committee regularly assesses the appropriate size of the Board and whether any vacancies on the Board are expected due to retirement or otherwise. In the event that vacancies are anticipated, or otherwise arise, the Committee will consider various potential candidates for director. Candidates may come to the attention of the Committee through current Board members, professional search firms, shareholders or other persons. These candidates are evaluated at regular or special meetings of the Committee and may be considered at any point during the year.
Shareholders entitled to vote for the election of directors may submit candidate recommendations for consideration by the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee if the Company receives timely written notice, in proper form, for each such recommended director candidate. If the notice is not timely and in proper form, the Committee reserves the right to not consider the candidate. Whether the Committee considers the nomination of such candidate depends on the facts and circumstances of the nomination at that time. To be timely, any shareholder desiring to recommend a candidate to be considered by the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee for nomination at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must submit such recommendation in writing to the Secretary of the Company no later than January 2, 2013.
In considering whether to recommend any candidate for inclusion in the Board's slate of recommended director nominees, including candidates recommended by shareholders, the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee will apply the criteria set forth in the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines. These criteria include the candidate's integrity, business acumen,
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age, experience, accounting and financial expertise, commitment, diligence, reputation, civic and community relationships, conflicts of interest and the ability to act in the interests of all shareholders. The Committee values diversity in its broadest sense and seeks nominees with a complementary range of opinions, industry knowledge, experience, professions, skills, geographic representation and backgrounds. The Committee does not assign specific weights to particular criteria and no particular criterion is necessarily applicable to all prospective nominees. The Company believes that the backgrounds and qualifications of the directors, considered as a group, should provide a significant composite mix of experience, knowledge, and abilities that will allow the Board to fulfill its responsibilities. The Committee recommends to the Board nominees as appropriate based on these principles.
The Board has concluded that each director nominee possesses the personal traits described above. In considering the director nominees' individual experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, the Board has concluded that the appropriate experience, qualifications, attributes and skills are represented for the Board as a whole and for each of the Board's committees. In addition, each director nominee possesses characteristics that led the Board to conclude that such person should serve as a director. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that the Board believes each director nominee possesses are discussed under “Proposal One - Election of Directors”, beginning on page 5.
Under the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, directors may not stand for reelection after reaching age 70, except that individuals who were serving as directors on March 11, 2010 may not stand for reelection past age 75.
A shareholder entitled to vote for the election of directors may directly nominate a candidate for election at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders if written notice of the shareholder's intent to nominate such person for election as director has been given, either by personal delivery or by certified mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Company and received by either (i) no later than January 4, 2013 and no earlier than October 6, 2012; or (ii) if the 2013 Annual Meeting is held more than 30 days before or after May 14, 2013, then no less than 90 days prior to the 2013 Annual Meeting. The notice must set forth (i) as to the shareholder giving the notice, (1) the name and address, as they appear on the Company's stock transfer books, of such shareholder, (2) a representation that such shareholder is a shareholder of record and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person specified in the notice, (3) the number of shares of stock of the Company beneficially owned by such shareholder, and (4) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such shareholder and the nominee and any other person or persons pursuant to which the nomination is to be made by the shareholder; and (ii) as to the person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director, (1) the name, age, business address and, if known, residence address of such person, (2) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (3) the number of shares of Company stock beneficially owned by such person, (4) any other information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors or is otherwise required by the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), including a discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the conclusion that the nominee should serve as a director, and (5) the written consent of such person to be named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.
Annual Meeting Attendance
The Company encourages members of the Board of Directors to attend the annual meeting of shareholders. All five of the then-serving directors attended the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Directors' Compensation
Director compensation is reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors based on recommendations of the Compensation Committee of the Board. The Compensation Committee will review director compensation annually in an effort to determine if the Company pays competitive compensation to attract and retain highly-qualified individuals.
For 2011, each non-employee director received an annual fee of $36,000 (prorated for the number of months served in the case of a director who leaves or joins the Board during the year), plus $1,000 for each meeting of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee he attended and $750 for each meeting of any other committee he attended. The Chairman of the Audit Committee received an additional annual fee of $7,000, and each of the chairmen of the remaining committees received an additional annual fee of $3,500. The non-employee directors' cash compensation is expected to remain unchanged in 2012.
Directors are reimbursed expenses related to their attendance at Board of Director or committee meetings.
For 2011, non-employee directors received a grant of 5,000 shares of restricted Common Stock which shares will vest at the end of one year. The Company's practice is to grant such shares as of the first Friday following each year's annual meeting of shareholders.
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The following table shows the compensation earned by each of the directors during 2011:
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR 2011

Name (1) | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($) (2) | Option Awards ($) (3) | Total ($)
Michael C. Hughes | 49,750 | 48,200 | — | 97,950
Barry Igdaloff | 54,500 | 48,200 | — | 102,700
Daniel K. Osborne | 60,250 | 48,200 | — | 108,450
James C. Wheat, III | 55,250 | 48,200 | — | 103,450

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* Columns for “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation”, “Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” and “All Other Compensation” have been omitted because they are not applicable.

(1) | Thomas B. Akin, the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, is not included in this table as he is an employee of the Company. Mr. Akin's compensation for service as an executive officer is included in the Summary Compensation Table on page 25.

(2) | The amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of grants of restricted stock to each listed director on May 13, 2011, calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in footnote 11 to the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2012. As of December 31, 2011, each of Messrs. Hughes, Igdaloff, Osborne, and Wheat had outstanding 5,000 shares of restricted stock.

(3) | As of December 31, 2011, Messrs. Igdaloff and Osborne each had 10,000 stock options outstanding and Messrs. Hughes and Wheat had no outstanding stock options.

OWNERSHIP OF STOCK
Management and Certain Beneficial Owners
The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock as of March 21, 2012, except as otherwise noted in the footnotes following, by: (a) each director of the Company, (b) each named executive officer of the Company, (c) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group, and (d) all other shareholders known by the Company to be beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock. Unless otherwise indicated, each person has sole investment and sole voting power with respect to the securities shown. The business address of each director and named executive officer is the Company's principal address.
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| Common Stock
Name | Shares | Percentage (1)
Thomas B. Akin (2) | 2,443,858 |  | 4.5%
Stephen J. Benedetti (3) | 141,943 |  | *
Byron L. Boston (4) | 195,770 |  | *
Michael R. Hughes (5) | 131,682 |  | *
Barry Igdaloff (6) | 884,746 |  | 1.63%
Daniel K. Osborne (7) | 83,790 |  | *
James C. Wheat, III (8) | 60,000 |  | *
All directors and executive officers as a group (7) persons) | 3,941,789 |  | 7.25%
Thornburg Investment Management, Inc. (9) 2300 North Ridgetop Road Sante Fe, NM 87506 | 2,860,000 |  | 5.26%
Wellington Management Company, LLP (10) 280 Congress Street Boston, MA 02210 | 3,035,901 |  | 5.59%

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* | Percentage of ownership is less than one percent of the outstanding shares.

For purposes of this table, beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with the provisions of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act under which, in general, a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of a security if he or she has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting of the security or the power to dispose of or direct the disposition of the security, or if he or she has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of the security within 60 days (“presently exercisable”).

(1) | Each percentage is based on 54,326,936 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding and is based on the assumption that the beneficial owner has exercised all presently exercisable stock options.

(2) | Amount includes 1,305,083 shares of Common Stock owned by Talkot Fund, L.P., of which Mr. Akin is the managing general partner, 14,394 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Akin's spouse over which Mr. Akin shares voting and investment power, and 32,500 shares held in a trust account of which Mr. Akin's spouse is the trustee and over which Mr. Akin shares voting and investment power. Amount includes 132,250 restricted shares of Common Stock over which Mr. Akin does not have investment power until such shares vest. Amount also includes 10,000 shares of Common Stock that Mr. Akin has the right to acquire through the exercise of presently exercisable stock options.

(3) | Amount includes 67,121 restricted shares of Common Stock over which Mr. Benedetti does not have investment power until such shares vest.

(4) | Amount includes 155,274 restricted shares of Common Stock over which Mr. Boston does not have investment power until such shares vest.

(5) | Amount includes 6,200 shares of Common Stock held in Mr. Hughes' spouse's IRA account and 32,700 shares of Common Stock held in Mr. Hughes' mother-in-law's account, over which accounts Mr. Hughes shares voting and investment power. Amount also includes 5,000 restricted shares of Common Stock over which Mr. Hughes does not have investment power until such shares vest on May 12, 2012.

(6) | Amount includes 542,453 shares of Common Stock owned by clients of Rose Capital, of which Mr. Igdaloff is the sole proprietor. Mr. Igdaloff shares the power to vote and dispose of such shares. Amount also includes 5,425 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Igdaloff's three adult children, over which Mr. Igdaloff shares voting and investment power. Amount also includes 10,000 shares of Common Stock that Mr. Igdaloff has the right to acquire through the exercise of presently exercisable stock options, and 5,000 restricted shares of Common Stock over which Mr. Igdaloff does not have investment power until such shares vest on May 12, 2012.

(7) | Amount reflects 61,468 shares of Common Stock owned by Vantage Pointe Capital Partners LP, of which Mr. Osborne is the managing member of its general partner, and 2,322 shares of Common Stock held in Mr. Osborne's spouse's IRA account. Amount also includes 10,000 shares of Common Stock that Mr. Osborne has the right to acquire through the exercise of presently exercisable stock options, and 5,000 restricted shares of Common Stock over which Mr. Osborne does not have investment power until such shares vest on May 12, 2012.

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(8) | Amount includes 5,000 restricted shares of Common Stock over which Mr. Wheat does not have investment power until such shares vest on May 12, 2012.

(9) | Based on a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 3, 2012 by Thornburg Investment Management, Inc.

(10) | Based on Amendment No. 2 to Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on February 14, 2012, by Wellington Management Company, LLP, which has shared voting and investment power over 3,035,901 shares of Common Stock.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and controller, and any persons who own more than 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock to file with the SEC reports of ownership and changes in ownership of Common Stock. Our directors, executive officers and controller are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports that they file. Generally, we will prepare all Section 16(a) filings with the SEC for our directors, executive officers and controller. Based solely on a review of the copies of such reports filed with the SEC and written representations from our directors, executive officers and controller that no other reports were required, we believe that our directors, executive officers and controller complied with all such reporting requirements during 2011, except for Messrs. Akin, Childress, Hughes, Igdaloff and Wheat, who each reported one transaction late on a Form 4.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which is composed of the non-employee directors listed below, is responsible for the development, oversight and implementation of our compensation program for our executive officers. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Compensation Committee annually reviews and establishes the compensation of our executive officers, including annual salary levels and bonuses to be paid. The Compensation Committee also makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the issuance of stock incentive awards, if any, to the executive officers and other compensation related matters.
The primary objective of our executive compensation program is to attract and retain highly skilled and motivated executive officers who will manage the Company in a manner to promote our growth and profitability, prudently manage and preserve our capital and advance the interests of our shareholders. As such, the compensation program is designed to provide levels of compensation that are reflective of both the individual's and the Company's performance in achieving our goals and objectives. The Compensation Committee seeks to provide a mix of compensation that will align the short- and long-term interests of our executive officers with that of our shareholders.
A discussion of the principles, objectives, components and determinations of the Compensation Committee with respect to executive compensation is included in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis that follows this Compensation Committee report. The specific decisions of the Compensation Committee regarding the compensation of our named executive officers are reflected in the compensation tables and narrative that follow the Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
The Compensation Committee has reviewed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis included in this Proxy Statement and discussed it with management. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.
Compensation Committee
Michael R. Hughes, Chairman
Daniel K. Osborne
James C. Wheat, III
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
No member of the Compensation Committee is a current or former officer or employee of the Company or any of our subsidiaries. In addition, there are no compensation committee interlocks with other entities with respect to any member of the Compensation Committee.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the material elements of the compensation programs offered to our executive officers. The Compensation Committee of the Board is responsible for the administration of our compensation plans, policies and programs and for all decisions relating to the compensation of our executive officers which include the chief executive officer, chief investment officer and chief financial officer/chief operating officer.
The Compensation Committee reviews and establishes the compensation of our executive officers and provides oversight of our compensation programs. The Compensation Committee consists entirely of non-employee, independent members of our Board of Directors and operates under a written charter approved by the Board of Directors.
Information on the Compensation Committee's processes and procedures for the consideration and determination of executive and director compensation is included under the captions “Corporate Governance and the Board of Directors - Committees of the Board - Compensation Committee” and “- Directors' Compensation.”
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Compensation Objectives and Philosophy
The primary objective of our executive compensation program is to attract and retain highly skilled and motivated officers who will manage the Company in a manner to promote our growth and profitability, prudently manage and preserve our capital, and advance the interests of our shareholders. The Compensation Committee understands that the specialized nature and complexities of the Company's investment activities and REIT structure require individuals with unique skills and experience. The Compensation Committee strives to establish competitive compensation packages which strike a balance between recognition of recent performance and aligning the interests of management on a longer-term basis with that of the Company's shareholders. Further, it is the intent of the Compensation Committee, and executive management, that this compensation philosophy be applied throughout the organization and that the types of compensation and benefits described herein provided to the executive officers be provided in similar fashion to all other employees.
2011 Say on Pay Vote
In connection with the 2011 annual meeting of shareholders, the Company asked its shareholders to vote on the reasonableness of executive compensation. Although the advisory shareholder vote on executive compensation was non-binding, the Compensation Committee has considered, and will continue to consider, the outcome of this vote each year when making compensation decisions for our Chief Executive Officer and other named executive officers. At our 2011 annual meeting of shareholders held on May 16, 2011, approximately 96% of the shareholders who voted on the “say-on-pay” proposal approved the compensation of our named executive officers, while approximately 4% voted against. The Compensation Committee believes that this shareholder vote endorses the compensation philosophy of the Company and, therefore, the Compensation Committee did not make any significant changes to our executive compensation practices in 2011.
Executive Compensation Principles
Our executive compensation program for 2011 consisted of base salaries, the potential for annual incentive payments in the form of cash bonuses, and the potential for long-term equity incentives in the form of restricted stock grants. These components of executive compensation are used together in an attempt to strike an appropriate balance between cash and stock-based compensation and between short-term and long-term incentives. We expect a meaningful portion of an executive officer's total compensation to be at risk, tied both to our annual and long-term performance as well as to the creation and protection of shareholder value. We believe that short-term annual cash compensation should be tied directly to both corporate performance and individual performance for the fiscal year, including the achievement of identified goals as they pertain to the areas of our financial performance, and for operations for which the executive officer is personally responsible and accountable. In contrast, we believe that the value of long-term incentive compensation should be tied directly to long-term corporate performance and an increase in shareholder value. Under our compensation approach, performance that exceeds identified goals results in increased total compensation, and performance that falls below identified goals results in decreased total compensation.
In 2011, bonus incentive compensation was provided to our executive officers pursuant to our Performance Bonus Program. The Performance Bonus Program provides for a payment of bonuses up to 200% of base salaries (or 210% if an executive officer elects to receive his entire bonus in Common Stock) based on the achievement of certain quantitative and qualitative objectives set forth in the Performance Bonus Program or as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. See further discussion on page 19 under “Annual Bonuses.”
We are currently developing a policy for the adjustment or recovery of payments and awards made to our executive officers in the event that our financial statements were to be restated in the future in a manner that would have impacted the size or payment of the award at the time of payment. In developing this policy we intend to apply the principles set forth in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 signed into law by President Obama in July, 2010.
How Executive Pay Levels are Determined
The Compensation Committee annually reviews our executive compensation program and its elements. All decisions by the Compensation Committee relating to the compensation of our executive officers are reported to the full Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee may periodically solicit third party reviews of our compensation programs, though it has not solicited such a review in recent years.
All executive officer compensation for 2011 was established by the Compensation Committee, except that the Board approves Mr. Akin's compensation based on the Compensation Committee's recommendation. Mr. Akin recommended setting base salaries and potential bonus payments for executive management and in that capacity consulted with Messrs. Benedetti and Boston regarding
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their compensation. Messrs. Benedetti and Boston did not participate in determining compensation for our executive officers other than to provide the Compensation Committee with their perspectives on salary and bonus requirements, as well as their views on our success during the calendar year in achieving our goals and objectives set forth at the beginning of the calendar year. Mr. Akin assisted the Compensation Committee in assessing the achievement of organizational goals for 2011.
In determining the compensation of our executive officers, the Compensation Committee evaluates total overall compensation, as well as the mix of salary, cash bonus incentives and equity incentives, using a number of factors including the following:

• | Historical cash and equity compensation levels

• | The financial performance of the Company, as determined quantitatively by the ROAE component of the Performance Bonus Program

• | The operating performance of the Company, as determined qualitatively by the Compensation Committee as a component of the Performance Bonus Program

• | The capital raising performance of the Company, as determined qualitatively by the Compensation Committee as a component of the Performance Bonus Program

• | The performance of the executive officer, as determined by Mr. Akin and reviewed by the Compensation Committee in the case of Messrs. Boston and Benedetti, and as determined by the Compensation Committee in the case of Mr. Akin

• | Comparative industry and market data, if deemed necessary

With respect to comparative industry data, the Compensation Committee may review executive salaries, compensation structures and the financial performance of comparable companies in a designated peer group established by the Compensation Committee, with assistance from the executive officers. The peer group used for comparison purposes may change from year to year, but focuses principally on public mortgage REITs that have a similar business to ours or are similar to our Company in complexity, and companies with similar market capitalizations and other characteristics. Some mortgage REITs are externally managed and executive officer compensation is not readily available.
In connection with establishing executive officer compensation for 2011, management prepared an informal analysis of the compensation structures or otherwise utilized an analysis of a peer group of several public companies prepared by an investment bank for its current and prospective clients at no charge and which included an analysis of compensation for Capstead Mortgage Corporation, Cypress Investments, and MFA Financial, Inc. for the Compensation Committee's reference. No third-party compensation consultant was retained by the Compensation Committee or management for evaluating executive compensation.
In general, our executive officers' compensation packages are structured in a manner similar to those companies in the peer group listed above. However, our executive officer compensation may differ in the amount of total compensation or in the amounts allocated to base salaries, annual incentive bonuses or long-term incentive stock awards versus the peer group listed above. Overall, the Compensation Committee viewed the level of executive officer compensation as adequate given our size versus the activities and size of other companies reviewed for 2011.
Components of Executive Compensation
The elements of our compensation program for 2011 included base salary, annual bonus compensation and consideration of long-term incentives through stock-based awards under our 2009 Stock and Incentive Plan, all of which are consistent with our compensation program in prior years. We provide certain retirement benefits through our 401(k) Savings Plan and our non-qualified 401(k) Overflow Plan, although the 401(k) Overflow Plan is not currently active. We also provide health and welfare benefits that include participation in our health, dental and vision plans and various insurance plans, including disability and life insurance, as well as certain perquisites.
Each of the three principal components of executive compensation is designed to reward and provide incentives to the executive officers consistent with our overall policies and principles on executive compensation. These components and the rationale and methodology for each are described below. Specific information on the amounts and types of compensation earned by each of the named executive officers during 2011 can be found in the Summary Compensation Table and other tables and narrative disclosures following this discussion.
Base Salary. Our base salary philosophy is to provide reasonable current income to our executive officers in amounts that will attract and retain individuals with a broad, proven track record of performance. The Compensation Committee establishes the annual salary for executive officers. In establishing salaries, the Compensation Committee balances the need to offer salaries that are competitive with peer companies with the need to maintain careful control of salary and benefits expense, particularly
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relative to our size and equity capital base.
For 2011, Mr. Akin's annual salary was $500,000 (an increase from $300,000), Mr. Boston's was $500,000 (an increase from $275,000) and Mr. Benedetti's was $350,000 (an increase from $236,000). The annual salary for our executive officers was increased in 2011 from 2010 to reflect the growth of the Company and the increased responsibilities of each of our executive officers, as well as to offer a more competitive level of salary. Effective April 1, 2012, the Compensation Committee increased Messrs. Akin's and Boston's annual salaries to $600,000 and Mr. Benedetti's to $375,000. Mr. Akin's and Mr. Boston's annual salaries were increased by $100,000 each, or 20%, as the Compensation Committee sought to bring their salaries more in line with the median among the peer group companies. Mr. Benedetti's salary was increased by $25,000, or 7%, as the Compensation Committee believed it already approximated the median among the peer group companies.
Annual Bonuses. Messrs. Akin, Boston and Benedetti were participants in the Performance Bonus Program in 2011. The Performance Bonus Program provides for bonus payments of up to 200% of the participant's base salary (or 210% if the participant elects to receive the entire bonus in Common Stock) based on three components - 25% of the Performance Bonus Program payment is based on return earned on adjusted common equity as determined by the Compensation Committee; 25% of the payment is based on certain qualitative performance objectives determined by the Compensation Committee and adjusted for the individual performance of the executive; and 50% of the payment is based on capital raising activities for the Company during the year as determined by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee believes the structure of the Performance Bonus Program aligns management compensation with shareholder returns and protecting/increasing shareholder value.
The Compensation Committee evaluated various measures and factors of performance in developing the structure of the Performance Bonus Program. The Compensation Committee determined, in its view, return on adjusted common equity (“ROAE”) was a strong indicator of our overall performance for any particular year. In addition, the Performance Bonus Program structure provides the Compensation Committee with considerable discretion to establish incentive compensation levels in a manner consistent with its overall compensation philosophy and objectives. Under the Performance Bonus Program, the bonus paid is increased by 5% for the portion of the bonus that the executive elects to receive in Common Stock of the Company instead of cash.
As noted above, there are three components of the Performance Bonus Program. The first component, which accounts for 25% of the potential bonus, is based on the Company's return on adjusted common equity which is determined as the Company's net income for the calendar year determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, adjusted for any non-recurring and/or unusual items as determined by the Compensation Committee in its sole discretion, plus the amount of the Performance Bonus Program expense, divided by average common shareholder equity excluding unrealized gains and losses, and adjusted for any equity capital that is raised until such time the capital is deployed. Based on the actual ROAE computed, each of the executive officers could earn a bonus equal to the product of 50% of the salary paid during the year and one of the following percentages: (i) 25% if the ROAE for the year is 6% or greater but less than 8%; or (ii) 50% if the ROAE for the year is 8% or greater but less than 10%; or (iii) 75% if the ROAE for the year is 10% or greater but less than 12%; or (iv) 100% if the ROAE for the year is 12% or greater.
The second component of the Performance Bonus Program, which accounts for 25% of the potential bonus, is based on certain qualitative factors determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee. During 2011, the Compensation Committee established goals related to increasing our shareholders' equity to $400 million and increasing our market capitalization to $450 million, improving our market perception through an expanded investor relations effort, expanding our investor base through a credible retail network, ensuring the scalability of our investment platform, structuring the investment portfolio to protect against interest rate, prepayment and credit risks, developing a comprehensive plan including a disaster recovery plan to protect us from threats against the stability of our business operations, and managing the general and administrative expense of the Company to a maximum 2.5% of our average shareholders' equity for 2011. The Compensation Committee reviewed the individual performance of Messrs. Akin, Boston and Benedetti with respect to meeting these goals for 2011 and, in addition, the performance of their responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer, and Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer, respectively. The Compensation Committee did not assign specific weightings to any of the factors noted above, intending them to be somewhat flexible given the dynamic nature of our industry and our investment strategy and the differing responsibilities of our executive officers.
The third component of the Performance Bonus Program, with a weight of 50%, was the Company's performance with respect to capital raising initiatives. In designing the Performance Bonus Program, the Compensation Committee desired to provide incentives to management to issue equity capital in a beneficial manner to the Company and its shareholders. Under this portion of the Performance Bonus Program, the Compensation Committee will annually review the capital raising activities of the Company for the calendar year and will determine the success of such efforts relative to factors including, but not limited to, the amount of capital raised, the use of capital raised, the mix of common versus preferred capital, the issue price relative to book value and
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market price at the time of issuance, and the cost of capital raising activities.
With respect to the amounts earned under the Performance Bonus Program in 2011, the calculated ROAE for 2011 was 14.0% resulting in Messrs. Akin, Boston and Benedetti earning 100% of that portion of the performance bonus. The ROAE of 14.0% was determined by adding back litigation and related costs of $8.2 million as an unusual item and also adding back accrued Performance Bonus Program expense to net income for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, and dividing that sum by the average common equity of the Company during the period excluding unrealized gains and losses, and adjusted for common equity capital that was raised until such time the capital was deployed. With respect to the second component of the Performance Bonus Program, the qualitative factors evaluated were the same for each executive officer, and the Compensation Committee determined that the executive officers had earned 100% of that portion of the bonus. However, each of Messrs. Akin's and Benedetti's portion of the qualitative awards was reduced by 80% as a result of the litigation loss to the Company of $8.2 million during 2011. Messrs. Akin and Benedetti were responsible for managing the litigation and the Compensation Committee felt that the results were unsatisfactory and reduced the bonus compensation accordingly. The Compensation Committee determined that management had met 40% of the third component related to capital raising activities. The Compensation Committee noted that the Company had raised $95 million in equity capital during the year and had increased its market capitalization from $330 million at December 31, 2010 to $369 million at December 31, 2011, an increase of approximately 12%. Moreover, total shareholders' equity had increased to $371 million at December 31, 2011 from $292 million at December 31, 2010. The Compensation Committee also noted that the Company's average daily trading volume also increased during the year, which was an important consideration for the Compensation Committee given the desire to increase the liquidity of the Company's common stock.
In March 2012, based on its evaluation of the Company's return on adjusted equity for 2011 and the level of achievement with respect to the qualitative factors, and capital raising initiatives the Compensation Committee approved bonus awards for Messrs. Akin, Boston and Benedetti of $500,000, $700,000 and $350,000, respectively, under the Performance Bonus Program, equal to approximately 50% of the maximum payment available for Messrs. Akin and Benedetti and 70% of the maximum payment available for Mr. Boston. The Compensation Committee felt that it was important that part of the bonus compensation for management be paid in restricted common stock of the Company and applied a formula as follows: for the amount of the bonus awarded up to $1 million, the bonus would be paid two-thirds in cash and one-third in restricted stock; for the amount of the bonus awarded between $1 million and $1.5 million, the bonus would be paid one-half in cash and one-half in restricted stock; and for the amount of bonus awarded above $1.5 million the bonus would be paid in all restricted stock. In accordance with this formula, Mr. Akin's bonus was paid $333,333 in cash and $166,667 in restricted stock, Mr. Boston's bonus was paid $466,667 in cash and $233,333 in restricted stock, and Mr. Benedetti's bonus was paid $233,333 in cash and $116,667 in restricted stock. The number of shares of restricted stock was determined using the closing stock price of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant. The restricted stock will vest over a period of three years and was issued under the 2009 Stock Incentive Plan. None of the executive officers chose to receive any additional stock in lieu of cash which would have enabled the executive officer to receive an additional 5% in consideration as permitted by the terms of the Performance Bonus Program.
The Compensation Committee may also consider the award of individual bonus amounts to executive officers outside of the Performance Bonus Program. Such bonus amounts are discretionary, and would be predicated on achievement of extraordinary individual or corporate results. No such bonuses were awarded for 2011.
Long-Term Equity Incentives. The Compensation Committee may provide equity incentives to executive officers through long-term awards. Long-term equity incentives historically have been made available to executive officers in the form of either restricted stock or option-based awards such as stock appreciation rights (payable in cash only). In recent years the Compensation Committee has moved toward the use of restricted stock awards versus option-based awards. The goal of the Compensation Committee in granting equity incentives is to directly link an executive's compensation opportunities with shareholder value creation and to continue to encourage our executive officers to think like owners of the Company. Stock appreciation rights require stock price appreciation in order for executive officers to realize any benefit, and thus directly align executive and shareholder interests. The Compensation Committee believes that restricted stock on the other hand, will further align the executive officers' interests with those of the shareholders, while providing an incentive to executive officers to remain employed with us for a required period of years.
The Compensation Committee uses multiyear vesting of equity incentive awards. Multiyear vesting focuses executive officers on consistent long-term growth in shareholder value and requires executive officers to remain employed with us for extended periods to receive the full benefit of the awards. Recent awards of restricted stock generally vest over three-year and four-year periods. Equity incentive awards are currently made pursuant to our 2009 Stock and Incentive Plan.
In February 2011, the Compensation Committee awarded certain officers of the Company a total of 303,000 shares of restricted stock. Such awards represented approximately 1% of the outstanding shares of the Company at the time of the awards. Of these restricted stock awards, an aggregate amount of 242,500 went to Messrs. Akin, Boston and Benedetti, which vest over three years,
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and the balance went to other officers of the Company and vest over four years. The Compensation Committee made these awards of restricted stock as recognition of the performance of management over the last several years, the overall growth and strong performance of the Company, the establishment of multiple counterparty trading and lending relationships, and the desire of the Compensation Committee to tie a portion of management compensation to the long-term performance of the Company. The Compensation Committee will annually review whether to award additional long-term incentive awards to management.
In March 2012, the Compensation Committee awarded certain of our officers and employees a total of 145,147 shares of restricted stock equal to approximately 0.37% of our outstanding shares at the time of the awards and having a value of approximately $1.37 million at the date of grant. Of these restricted stock awards, 47,624 restricted shares were awarded to each of Mr. Akin and Mr. Boston and 12,883 restricted shares were awarded to Mr. Benedetti. Such awards vest over a four year period.
Executive Compensation Programs for 2012. In March 2012, the Compensation Committee began a review of the Company's annual bonus and long-term equity incentive award compensation to consider combining these awards in the future and making other changes to the Performance Bonus Program. The Compensation Committee expects to conclude its review and implement any related changes in April 2012.
Timing of Long-Term Incentive Awards. We are aware that the release of our quarterly financial results may have an impact on the market price of our Common Stock, and therefore the value of the long-term incentive awards to our executive officers, as well as stock grants awarded to directors, depending on whether the information is favorable or unfavorable. Our historical practice with respect to the timing of long-term incentive awards had been to approve such grants once each year in December. As noted above, long-term incentive restricted stock awards for 2010 and 2011 were granted to certain officers of the Company. Such grants occurred in February 2011 and March 2012 after the Company had released is fourth quarter results for the respective year but before we filed our Annual Report on Form 10-K. We anticipate that successive year grants will be awarded on a similar timetable.
Non-employee directors receive annual grants of restricted stock on the first Friday following the annual meeting of shareholders, generally in May or June of each year. The amount of the annual grant is 5,000 shares of restricted Common Stock, which shares will vest at the end of one year.
In the case of grants to our directors, we believe that the annual meeting of shareholders is an appropriate time during the year to make equity grants and that a consistent application of our equity granting practices from year to year regardless of the content of the first quarter earnings release is also appropriate. The equity awards granted by the Compensation Committee are designed to create incentives for the creation of long-term shareholder value and contain delayed vesting provisions that prevent recipients from taking advantage of short-term fluctuations in the market price of our Common Stock.
We have not planned in the past, nor do we plan in the future, to time the release of material non-public information for the purpose of affecting the value of executive or director compensation. We do not have a practice of setting the exercise price of options or stock appreciation rights based on the stock price on any date other than the grant date, nor do we use a formula or any other method to select a price based on a period before, after or surrounding the grant date. All stock incentive awards granted to executives are granted at the closing price of our Common Stock on the effective date of grant.
Retirement Plans. We provide additional compensation to our executive officers through various plans which are also available to some or all of our other employees. The Compensation Committee oversees these plans and the Compensation Committee considers these plans when reviewing an executive's total annual compensation and determining the annual and long-term compensation components described above.
We have a 401(k) Savings Plan for all of our employees. The 401(k) Savings Plan allows eligible employees to defer up to 25% of their income on a pretax basis. We match on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to 6% of an employee's eligible compensation, subject to limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. We also have a non-qualified 401(k) Overflow Savings Plan where employees who maximized their contributions to the 401(k) Savings Plan could contribute amounts on an after-tax basis. However, the 401(k) Overflow Plan is currently inactive.
Other Benefits and Perquisites. The Company provides our executive officers with perquisites and other personal benefits on a limited basis with overall compensation program objectives to attract and retain high quality executives. The Compensation Committee has reviewed the levels of perquisites and other personal benefits provided to our executive officers and believes them to be appropriate.
Mr. Boston relocated in 2011 from Jacksonville, Florida to our headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. During the time of his residence in Florida, we provided Mr. Boston with a corporate apartment and paid for his commuting expenses in connection
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with traveling to our headquarters including air travel, rental car and meal allowance. The Company also reimbursed Mr. Boston for certain relocation expenses and granted him 35,006 shares of restricted stock which vest quarterly over a three-year period in connection with his relocation to Richmond in August 2011. The total amount of relocation expense incurred for 2011 for Mr. Boston's relocation to Richmond was $164,059, excluding the restricted stock grant.
No other perks are provided to the named executive officers other than those detailed above for Mr. Boston. Details of perquisites provided to Mr. Boston are set forth in footnotes to the Summary Compensation Table.
Employment Agreements and Severance Agreements. With respect to our executive officers, we have agreements with Messrs. Boston and Benedetti. Mr. Akin's employment agreement expired on March 1, 2011 and has not been renewed as of the date of this Proxy Statement. As used below, the terms “cause,” “change in control,” and “good reason” have the respective meanings set forth in the applicable employment or severance agreement. The Compensation Committee intends to enter into new employment agreements with each of Messrs. Akin, Boston, and Benedetti during 2012.
Mr. Akin. As noted above, Mr. Akin's employment agreement expired on March 1, 2011 and is in the process of being replaced. It is expected that Mr. Akin's new employment agreement will provide for an annual base salary of $600,000, subject to annual review by the Board of Directors with the Board being able to increase (but not decrease) the base salary based on Mr. Akin's performance in accordance with the Company's regular policies and procedures. The agreement is expected to provide for his participation in the Performance Bonus Program for 2012. Mr. Akin's prior employment agreement provided for a base salary of $300,000. The Compensation Committee believes that an increase in Mr. Akin's compensation is appropriate based on his responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer given the larger size and complexity of the Company today. Under Mr. Akin's prior employment agreement, Mr. Akin was entitled to the same benefits as other employees under our 401(k) Savings Plan, and was entitled to participate in our health, dental and vision plans and various insurance plans, including disability and life insurance, to the same extent as other employees should he so elect. It is anticipated that Mr. Akin's new agreement will have similar provisions. Mr. Akin's prior employment agreement contained provisions related to the termination of his employment with the Company. Mr. Akin's prior agreement provided that if he were terminated for any reason, he would be entitled to payment of unpaid base salary through the date of termination, earned and unpaid vacation and reimbursement for any business expenses incurred prior to termination. Further, unless Mr. Akin were terminated for “cause” and subject to certain limitations, if he executed a general release in connection with his termination the agreement provided he would also be entitled to the pro-rated portion of the Performance Bonus Program payment that would have been payable to him based on the achievement by the Company of performance goals for that portion of time during the calendar year that he was employed, payable at the time such bonus would have otherwise been paid; and any incentive stock awards awarded to him prior to termination would become immediately 100% vested and exercisable. The new employment agreement is expected to have similar provisions but also to provide Mr. Akin with additional severance compensation in the event of termination of his employment under certain circumstances similar to those contained in Mr. Boston's employment agreement as discussed below.
As with his prior agreement, the new employment agreement is expected to permit Mr. Akin to remain in his role as managing general partner of Talkot Capital LLC, but otherwise Mr. Akin will not be permitted to be employed by, render services for, engage in business with or serve as an agent or consultant to any entity other than the Company. The new employment agreement is expected to provide for customary confidentiality obligations during and following Mr. Akin's employment including noncompetition and nonsolicitation provisions that are effective during, and for one year following termination of, his employment. If Mr. Akin were to breach any of his confidentiality, noncompetition or nonsolicitation obligations, it is expected that he would forfeit any unpaid amounts or benefits and be obligated to repay certain amounts or benefits.
Mr. Boston. Mr. Boston's employment agreement provides for his employment as the Chief Investment Officer of the Company, with a current term through March 31, 2012. The agreement renews automatically for successive one-year terms, unless either the Company or Mr. Boston gives written notice of non-renewal at least 90 days prior to expiration of the then-current term of the agreement. Mr. Boston's employment agreement provides for an initial annual base salary of $275,000 (subject to further increases by the Compensation Committee) and annual cash incentive payments in the form of discretionary annual bonuses and long-term equity incentives in the form of restricted stock. The agreement provides for his participation in the Performance Bonus Program (which in 2011 meant he was eligible for a bonus up to 210% of his salary paid). Under his employment agreement, Mr. Boston is entitled to participate in the employee and executive benefit plans and programs implemented by the Company in which other senior executives of the Company are eligible to participate, including life, medical, dental, accidental and disability insurance plans and retirement, deferred compensation and savings plans, in accordance with the terms and conditions of such plans. Mr. Boston is also eligible to participate in the Company's 401(k) Savings Plan, and the Company will match Mr. Boston's contributions to the plan in accordance with the plan's terms. Under the agreement, Mr. Boston will also be provided with a cell phone and personal data assistant for his use, and the Company will pay for any business-related usage fees for such items. Mr. Boston's employment agreement provides generally that a lump sum payment will be made to him under certain circumstances upon his termination of employment with us. These circumstances include the termination of employment by Mr. Boston for “good reason”,
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which includes, among other things, termination after a “change in control,” or the termination of his employment by the Company without “cause”. In such events, Mr. Boston will have the right to receive a lump sum payment equal to the sum of (i) his base salary through the date of his termination (to the extent not previously paid), reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses incurred by him prior to his termination and payment for any vacation time accrued by him but unused as of the date of his termination, together with a portion of certain amounts payable under the Performance Bonus Program, (ii) the equivalent of his then current annual base salary multiplied by 2.99 and (iii) any other amounts or benefits Mr. Boston is entitled to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company. Mr. Boston also will become fully vested in any restricted stock, options, stock appreciation rights or other forms of incentive stock compensation granted to him if he terminates his employment for good reason or if he is terminated without cause. Finally, in such events, the Company is obligated to provide continued coverage to Mr. Boston at its expense under the Company's medical, dental, life insurance and disability policies or arrangements for a period of 12 months following termination of employment, which may be limited in certain circumstances.
Mr. Boston's employment agreement provides for confidentiality obligations during and following Mr. Boston's employment and includes noncompetition provisions that are effective during, and for 90 days following, his employment and non-solicitation provisions that are effective during, and for six months following, his employment.
In all circumstances, any amounts paid by the Company pursuant to Mr. Boston's employment agreement will be limited to the maximum amount deductible under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (and any successor provision). See further discussion under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” below.
Mr. Benedetti. The terms of Mr. Benedetti's severance agreement provide generally that a lump sum payment will be made to Mr. Benedetti under certain circumstances upon his termination of employment with us. These circumstances include the termination of employment by Mr. Benedetti for “good reason”, which includes termination after a “change in control,” or the termination of his employment by the Company without “cause”. In such events, Mr. Benedetti will have the right to receive a lump sum payment equal to the sum of (i) his base salary and bonus, if any, that has accrued but has not been paid, (ii) the equivalent of his annual base salary of one year for every fifty months that Mr. Benedetti has been employed by the Company pro-rated for any period of less than fifty months and (iii) any other amounts or benefits Mr. Benedetti is entitled to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company. Mr. Benedetti also will become fully vested in any restricted stock, options, stock appreciation rights or other forms of incentive stock compensation granted to him if he terminates his employment for good reason or if he is terminated without cause. Finally, in such events, the Company is obligated to provide continued coverage to Mr. Benedetti at its expense under the Company's medical, dental, life insurance and disability policies or arrangements for a period of 12 months following termination of employment, which may be limited in certain circumstances.
If Mr. Benedetti's employment is terminated for “cause”, the Company will only be obligated to pay to Mr. Benedetti (i) his annual base salary through the date of termination, (ii) any bonus to the extent already earned by Mr. Benedetti, but unpaid, (iii) the amount of any compensation previously deferred by Mr. Benedetti, and (iv) any other amounts or benefits Mr. Benedetti would be entitled to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company.
If Mr. Benedetti voluntarily terminates his employment for other than “good reason”, the Company will be obligated to pay him (i) his annual base salary through the date of termination, (ii) any bonus to the extent already accrued by Mr. Benedetti, but unpaid, and (iii) any other amounts or benefits Mr. Benedetti would be entitled to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company.
In all circumstances, any amounts paid by the Company pursuant to the severance agreement will be limited to the maximum amount deductible under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (and any successor provision). See further discussion under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control” below.
Limitations on Certain Short-term or Speculative Transactions in the Company's Securities
The Board of Directors has approved a Statement of Policy Regarding Trading in Company Securities (the “Insider Trading Policy”) that applies to all directors, officers and employees of the Company and helps ensure that the Company's personnel bear the full risks and benefits of stock ownership. The Insider Trading Policy generally prohibits executive officers, among others, from engaging in short-term or speculative transactions in the Company's securities, such as short sales, trading in publicly-traded derivative securities, and hedging transactions. Executive officers are also prohibited from holding the Company's Common Stock in margin accounts or, with limited exceptions, pledging the Company's Common Stock as collateral for a loan. The prohibition on trading in derivative securities does not include the exercise of options or other awards granted under a Company compensation plan.
Annual Compensation of Executive Officers
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Compensation for our executive officers is administered under the direction of our Compensation Committee. In the tables and discussion below, we summarize the compensation earned during 2011, 2010, and 2009 by Messrs. Akin, Boston, and Benedetti. The Company had no other executive officers during 2011.
Summary Compensation Table for 2011 *

Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) (1) | Stock Awards ($) (2) | Options Awards ($) (2) | Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) (1) | All Other Compensation ($) (3) | Total ($)
Thomas B. Akin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | 2011 2010 2009 | 500,000 300,000 300,000 | -- -- -- | 1,068,000 -- -- | -- -- -- | 500,000 574,350 309,531 | 579 1,982 1,032 | 2,068,579 876,332 610,563
Byron L. Boston President and Chief Investment Officer | 2011 2010 2009 | 500,000 275,000 275,000 | -- -- 50,000 | 1,154,401 -- -- | -- -- -- | 700,000 502,000 275,000 | 203,628 82,158 52,872 | 2,558,029 859,158 652,872
Stephen J. Benedetti Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer | 2011 2010 2009 | 350,000 236,000 236,000 | -- -- -- | 667,500 -- -- | -- -- -- | 350,000 430,000 239,371 | 17,079 17,810 16,835 | 1,384,579 683,810 492,206

______________
*The column for “Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” has been omitted because it is not applicable.

(1) | Amounts earned for 2011 performance under the Performance Bonus Program for Messrs. Akin, Boston, and Benedetti are reported as “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation”, and include any portion of the bonus award that was paid in restricted shares of the Company's Common Stock per the Compensation Committee's determination. Amounts earned for 2010 performance under the Performance Bonus Program for Messrs. Akin, Boston, and Benedetti are reported as “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation”, and in the case of Mr. Akin reflects a 5% increase in the amount earned under the plan with respect to the portion of the bonus award he elected in March 2011 to receive in unrestricted shares of the Company's Common Stock in lieu of cash. Amounts earned for 2009 performance under the ROAE Bonus Program for Messrs. Akin, Boston, and Benedetti are reported as “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation”, and in the case of Messrs. Akin and Benedetti reflect a 5% increase in the amount earned under the plan with respect to the portion of the bonus award each elected in March 2010 to receive in unrestricted shares of the Company's Common Stock in lieu of cash. The amount earned for 2009 performance for Mr. Boston of $50,000 included under the “Bonus” column above was a discretionary bonus award based on Mr. Boston's performance during the year and was not awarded pursuant to the bonus program in place at that time. All amounts reported were earned in the year reported and paid to the executive officers in March of the following year.

(2) | The amounts in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock (under the column “Stock Awards”) granted to the executive officers in February 2011, and in September 2011 in the case of Mr. Boston, under the Company's 2009 Stock and Incentive Plan, (calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718). With respect to the restricted stock granted in February 2011, these amounts represent incentive compensation related to 2010 and prior activities. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in footnote 11 to the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 2, 2012. No awards of stock options or stock appreciation rights were granted to any of the named executive officers during 2011, 2010, or 2009. No awards of restricted stock were granted to any of the named executive officers during 2010 or 2009.

(3) | Amount for 2011 for Mr. Akin consists of group term life insurance premiums in the amount of $579; amount for 2011 for

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Mr. Boston consists of matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) Savings Plan in the amount of $16,500, group term life insurance premiums in the amount of $579, corporate housing expenses in the amount of $12,046 (based on cost of rent, utilities and cable), associated meal allowance in the amount of $1,290, commuting expenses in the amount of $9,155 (based on cost of plane travel, car rental, taxi services, and parking), and relocation expenses in the amount of $164,059 (which includes $17,696 in tax gross up); amount for 2011 for Mr. Benedetti consists of matching contributions to the Company's 401(k) Savings Plan in the amount of $16,500 and group term life insurance premiums in the amount of $579. The amount for 2009 for Mr. Boston includes estimates for commuting expense.
All compensation that we have paid to Messrs. Akin, Boston, and Benedetti has been determined as described above in our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section.
The following table contains information concerning grants of plan-based incentive awards, restricted stock, and stock options to the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards for 2011*

|  | Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (2) | All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#) | All Other Option Awards: Number of Securities Underlying Options (#) | Exercise or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh) | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards ($)
Name | Grant Date | Threshold ($) | Target ($) | Maximum ($)(1)
Thomas B. Akin | -- | -- | -- | $1,050,000 | -- | -- | -- | --
| 2-11-11 | -- | -- | -- | 100,000 | -- | -- | $1,068,000
Byron L. Boston | -- | -- | -- | $1,050,000 | -- | -- | -- | --
| 2-11-11 | -- | -- | -- | 80,000 | -- | -- | $854,400
| 9-7-11 | -- | -- | -- | 35,006 | -- | -- | $300,001
Stephen J. Benedetti | -- | -- | -- | $735,000 | -- | -- | -- | --
| 2-11-11 | -- | -- | -- | 62,500 | -- | -- | $667,500

*Columns for “Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards” have been omitted because they are not applicable.

(1) | Reflects maximum amount, equal to 210% of the salary paid for 2011, that the executive officers could earn for 2011 under the Performance Bonus Program, which includes a 5% increase to the extent the executive elects at payment time to receive any portion of the bonus award earned in unrestricted shares of the Company's Common Stock in lieu of cash. Notwithstanding, once the amounts earned were determined pursuant to the Performance Bonus Program, a portion of such amounts for 2011 was paid in the form of restricted stock with a three year vesting period with the remaining amount paid in cash. The number of shares of restricted stock paid was based on the following formula: for the bonus amount awarded up to $1 million, one third is paid in stock; for the bonus amount awarded between $1 million and $1.5 million, one half is paid in stock; and for the bonus amount awarded above $1.5 million, all is paid in stock.

(2) There is no threshold or target amount under the Performance Bonus Program. The actual amount earned by Messrs. Akin, Boston, and Benedetti for 2011 under the Performance Bonus Program is reported as “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table on page 25.
Holdings of Stock-Based Awards
The table below presents information regarding options, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock held by each of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2011.
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Outstanding Equity Awards at 2011 Fiscal Year-End*

| Option Awards | Stock Awards
Name | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable (1) | Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (2) (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (3) ($)
Thomas B. Akin | 5,000 5,000 | -- -- | 9.81 9.02 | 5-16-13 5-25-12 | 100,000 -- | $913,000 --
Byron L. Boston | -- | -- | -- | -- | 112,090 | $1,023,382
Stephen J. Benedetti | 25,000 25,000 | -- -- | 7.06 6.61 | 12-31-13 12-31-12 | 64,125 -- | $585,461 --

* The columns for “Equity Incentive Plan Awards” have been omitted because they are not applicable.

(1) | The options held by Mr. Akin were granted to him as director compensation and were fully vested on the date of grant. For Mr. Benedetti, these represent stock appreciation rights as of December 31, 2011 which have fully vested as of that date.

(2) | For Mr. Akin, these shares represent restricted shares granted in 2011 which vest in equal annual installments on February 11, 2012, 2013 and 2014. For Mr. Boston, these shares include 80,000 restricted shares granted in 2011 which vest in equal annual installments on February 11, 2012, 2013 and 2014 plus 35,006 shares granted in 2011 (of which 32,090 were unvested at December 31, 2011) related to Mr. Boston's relocation which vest 2,916 shares quarterly beginning December 2011 until September 2014. For Mr. Benedetti, these shares include 62,500 shares which vest in equal annual installments on February 11, 2012, 2013 and 2014, and 1,625 restricted shares that are part of an award granted in 2008 that vests in equal installments on each of February 4, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

(3) This amount represents the fair market value of the restricted stock as of December 30, 2011, the last business day of 2011. The closing price of the Company's Common Stock was $9.13 on that date.
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The table below presents information regarding stock options or stock appreciation rights that were exercised by our named executive officers during 2011 and restricted stock held by our named executive officers that vested during 2011.
Option Exercises and Stock Vested for 2011

Name | Option Awards | Stock Awards
Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise (#)(1) | Value Realized on Exercise (2) ($) | Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting (#) | Value Realized on Vesting (3) ($)
Thomas B. Akin | -- | -- | -- | --
Byron L. Boston | -- | -- | 2,916 | $27,119
Stephen J. Benedetti | 60,000 | $91,800 | 1,625 | $17,193

(1) | The amount in this column represents the number of cash-settled stock appreciation rights exercised by Mr. Benedetti during 2011.

(2) | The amount in this column represents the difference between the closing price of $9.34 for the Company's Common Stock on the exercise date of December 15, 2011 and the fair market value on the date of grant of $7.81 times the number of stock appreciation rights exercised.

(3) | For Mr. Boston, the amount in this column represents the closing price of $9.30 for the Company's Common Stock on the date of vesting of December 7, 2011 times the number of shares that vested, and for Mr. Benedetti, the amount in this column

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represents the closing price of $10.58 for the Company's Common Stock on the date of vesting of February 4, 2011 times the number of shares that vested.
401(k) Overflow Plan
Historically, certain executives, including Mr. Benedetti, were eligible to defer salary and portions of bonus awards pursuant to the Company's 401(k) Overflow Plan, in excess of deferral limits on the Company's 401(k) Savings Plan. Beginning in 2004, no new contributions have occurred under the 401(k) Overflow Plan. Mr. Benedetti is the only named executive officer with an account balance under the plan.
The following table provides information regarding our named executive officers' participation in the Company's 401(k) Overflow Plan.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation for 2011

Name | Executive Contributions in Last FY ($) | Registrant Contributions in Last FY ($) | Aggregate Earnings in Last FY ($) | Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions ($) | Aggregate Balance at Last FYE (2) ($)
Thomas B. Akin | -- | -- | -- | -- | --
Byron L. Boston | -- | -- | -- | -- | --
Stephen J. Benedetti | -- | -- | (1,230) | -- | 119,945

(1) | The aggregate balance for Mr. Benedetti includes $42,122, which was reported as compensation in the Company's Summary Compensation Table in prior years.

Other Compensation
We do not offer any pension benefit plans or deferred compensation plans to our executive officers or other employees, other than what is discussed under the Retirement Plans section of “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above.
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change-in-Control
As discussed above, we had an employment agreement with Mr. Akin (which is in the process of being replaced) and have an employment agreement with Mr. Boston and a severance agreement with Mr. Benedetti. As described below, these agreements provide our executive officers with, among other things, base salary, bonus and certain payments at, following and/or in connection with certain terminations of employment including in connection with a change in control of the Company. As used below, the terms “cause,” “change in control,” and “good reason” have the respective meanings set forth in the applicable employment or severance agreement. In addition, each of Messrs. Akin, Boston and Benedetti are parties to restricted stock agreements that provide for accelerated vesting of their restricted shares under certain circumstances.
Mr. Akin. Mr. Akin had no employment agreement effective as of December 31, 2011 and therefore he would not have the contractual right to receive payments upon a termination or upon a change-in-control on such date. However, Mr. Akin has restricted shares that will become fully vested (i) upon a change in control, (ii) if his employment is terminated upon his becoming disabled, his death, or his retirement (with the consent of the Compensation Committee) at or after age sixty-five where there is no cause for termination or (iii) if he terminates his employment for good reason or if his employment is terminated without cause. The value of the accelerated vesting of Mr. Akin's restricted shares would have been $913,000 based on the closing market price of the Company's Common Stock on December 30, 2011, the last business day of 2011.
Mr. Boston. The employment agreement for Mr. Boston provides for an annual base salary of not less than $275,000. Effective April 1, 2012, Mr. Boston's base salary was increased to $600,000. Mr. Boston is eligible to participate with Messrs. Akin and Benedetti in the Performance Bonus Program at up to 200% of his annual salary. Specific information regarding the Performance Bonus Program is provided under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis-Components of Executive Compensation” of the
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Executive Compensation section of this Proxy Statement. As discussed above, Mr. Boston's employment agreement provides for a term through March 31, 2012 and renews automatically for successive one-year terms, unless either the Company or Mr. Boston gives written notice of non-renewal at least 90 days prior to expiration of the then-current term of the agreement.
Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement, under certain specified scenarios during the term of his employment, Mr. Boston is entitled to receive, in addition to earned and unpaid amounts then owed to him, certain payments upon the termination of his employment including in connection with a “change in control” involving the Company. Under Mr. Boston's employment agreement, the occurrence of a “change in control” is included in the definition of “good reason.”

• | Without Cause or For Good Reason. If Mr. Boston's employment is terminated by us without “cause” (which would exclude our determination not to renew his employment at the end of any applicable term) or by him for “good reason,” he will be entitled to receive a lump sum payment in cash equal to the aggregate of the amounts under items (1) through (4) below, and will receive the benefits listed in items (5) through (8) as follows: (1) his base salary through the date of his termination, to the extent not previously paid; (2) reimbursement of any unreimbursed business expenses incurred by him prior to his termination; (3) payment for any vacation time accrued by him but unused as of the date of his termination; (4) an amount equal to his annual base salary on the day prior to the date of his termination multiplied by 2.99; (5) the pro-rata portion of the Performance Bonus Program payment that would have been payable to him based on the achievement by the Company of performance goals for that portion of time during the calendar year of the Company that he was employed (the “Pro-Rata Bonus”), payable at the time such bonus would have otherwise been paid; (6) any incentive stock awards awarded to him prior to his termination will become immediately 100% vested and exercisable; (7) subject to certain limitations, continued coverage under the Company's medical plans for Mr. Boston and his dependents covered under such plans for a period of one year from the date of his termination; and (8) to the extent not paid prior to his termination, the Company will pay or provide him with any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which he is eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement with the Company. In the event that Mr. Boston's employment with us was terminated on December 31, 2011 under one of these two scenarios, he would have been entitled to receive from us a payment estimated to be $2,195,000 inclusive of the bonus award paid in March 2012 to Mr. Boston for 2011 under the Performance Bonus Program. Also, the cost to the Company of providing continued benefits for 12 months would have been approximately $25,063. Additionally, the value of the accelerated vesting of Mr. Boston's restricted shares of the Company's Common Stock would have been $1,023,382 based on the closing market price of the Company's Common Stock on December 30, 2011, the last business day of 2011.

• | Without Good Reason, With Cause, Death or Disability. If Mr. Boston's employment is terminated by him without “good reason,” by us for “cause,” or because of his death or disability, he will be entitled only to receive a lump sum payment in cash equal to the aggregate of the following amounts: (1) his base salary through the date of his termination, to the extent not previously paid; (2) reimbursement of any unreimbursed business expenses incurred by him prior to his termination; and (3) payment for any vacation time accrued by him but unused as of the date of his termination. Further, should Mr. Boston's employment be terminated upon his death or because of his disability, the Company will pay to him (or his estate in the event of his death), the Pro-Rata Bonus amount due to him under the Performance Bonus Program, if any, in one lump sum payment on the date such bonus would have otherwise been paid for the calendar year of the Company that includes the date of his termination. In the event that Mr. Boston's employment with us was terminated for either of these reasons on December 31, 2011, he would have been entitled to receive from us a payment estimated to be $700,000 which is the amount he earned under the Performance Bonus Program for 2011. In addition, the value of the accelerated vesting of Mr. Boston's restricted shares in the event of death or disability would have been $1,023,382 based on the closing market price of the Company's Common Stock on December 30, 2011.

Mr. Boston's employment agreement provides that it is intended that any payments made to Mr. Boston under the agreement and under any other plan, agreement or arrangement maintained by the Company shall not constitute “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (or any successor provision). If the Company's auditors determine that any payment or distribution to be made to Mr. Boston under the agreement would be nondeductible by the Company under Section 280G of the Code, then the amounts payable or distributable under the agreement will be reduced to the maximum amount which may be paid or distributed without causing such payments or distributions to be nondeductible. The amounts shown do not reflect any potential reductions that may be imposed pursuant to this provision.
Mr. Benedetti. The severance agreement for Mr. Benedetti does not provide for a specific annual base salary. However, Mr. Benedetti's severance agreement provides for his right to terminate for good reason if there is a material diminution in his compensation. Mr. Benedetti is eligible to participate with Messrs. Akin and Boston in the Performance Bonus Program at up to 200% of his annual salary. Mr. Benedetti's severance agreement has no expiration date.
Pursuant to the terms of his severance agreement, under certain specified scenarios during the term of his employment, Mr.
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Benedetti is entitled to receive, in addition to earned and unpaid amounts then owed to him, certain payments upon the termination of his employment, including termination in connection with a “change in control” involving the Company. Items considered “good reason” include the occurrence of a change in control of the Company, a material change in Mr. Benedetti's responsibilities or compensation, or a change in the location of Mr. Benedetti's employment. A “change in control” includes among other things, an acquisition of more than 20% of our Common Stock by an unrelated entity, a material change in the composition of our Board of Directors, certain mergers or other business combinations, or a vote by our shareholders to liquidate or dissolve the Company.

• | Without Cause or For Good Reason. If Mr. Benedetti's employment is terminated by us without “cause” (which would exclude our determination not to renew his employment at the end of any applicable term) or by him for “good reason,” he will be entitled to (i) his base salary and any bonus that has accrued but has not been paid, (ii) the equivalent of his annual base salary of one year for every fifty months that Mr. Benedetti has been employed by the Company pro-rated for any period of less than fifty months and (iii) any other amounts or benefits Mr. Benedetti is entitled to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company. Mr. Benedetti also will become fully vested in any options, stock appreciation rights or other forms of incentive stock compensation granted to him if he terminates his employment for good reason or if he is terminated without cause. Finally, in such events, the Company is obligated to provide continued coverage to Mr. Benedetti at its expense under the Company's medical, dental, life insurance and disability policies or arrangements for a period of 12 months following termination of employment, which may be limited in certain circumstances. In the event that Mr. Benedetti's employment with us was terminated on December 31, 2011 under one of these two scenarios, he would have been entitled to receive from us a payment estimated to be $1,799,000 inclusive of the amount paid to him in March 2012 under the Performance Bonus Program. Also, the cost to the Company of providing continued benefits for 12 months would have been approximately $15,200. The value of the accelerated vesting of Mr. Benedetti's restricted shares of the Company's Common Stock would have been $585,461 based on the closing market price of the Company's Common Stock on December 30, 2011, the last business day of 2011.

Without Good Reason, With Cause, Death or Disability. If Mr. Benedetti's employment is terminated for “cause”, the Company will be obligated to pay to Mr. Benedetti (i) his annual base salary through the date of termination, (ii) any bonus to the extent already earned by Mr. Benedetti, but unpaid, (iii) the amount of any compensation previously deferred by Mr. Benedetti, and (iv) any other amounts or benefits Mr. Benedetti would be entitled to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company. If Mr. Benedetti voluntarily terminates his employment for other than “good reason”, the Company will be obligated to pay him (i) his annual base salary through the date of termination, (ii) any bonus to the extent already accrued by Mr. Benedetti, but unpaid, and (iii) any other amounts or benefits Mr. Benedetti would be entitled to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company. If Mr. Benedetti's employment is terminated by reason of his death or disability, the Company will be obligated to pay him (i) his annual base salary through the date of termination, (ii) any bonus to the extent already accrued by Mr. Benedetti, but unpaid, and (iii) any other amounts or benefits Mr. Benedetti would be entitled to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company, including any payments that may be due to Mr. Benedetti under the Company's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan and 2009 Stock and Incentive Plan. In the event that Mr. Benedetti's employment with us was terminated for any of the reasons above on December 31, 2011, he would have been entitled to receive from us a payment estimated to be $350,000, which is the amount he earned under the Performance Bonus Program for 2011. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the agreements relating to such shares, the value of the accelerated vesting of Mr. Benedetti's restricted shares of the Company's Common Stock in the event of his death or disability would have been $585,461 based on the closing market price of the Company's Common Stock on December 30, 2011.
Mr. Benedetti's severance agreement provides that it is intended that any payments made to Mr. Benedetti under the agreement and under any other plan, agreement or arrangement maintained by the Company shall not constitute “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (or any successor provision). If the Company's auditors determine that any payment or distribution to be made to Mr. Benedetti would be nondeductible by the Company under Section 280G of the Code, then the amounts payable or distributable under the agreement will be reduced to the maximum amount which may be paid or distributed without causing such payments or distributions to be nondeductible. The amounts shown do not reflect any potential reductions that may be imposed pursuant to this provision.
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PROPOSAL TWO
ADVISORY AND NON-BINDING VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
As required by SEC rules, we are providing our shareholders the opportunity to vote to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this Proxy Statement in accordance with the SEC's rules.
As described in detail under the heading “Executive Compensation - Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” our executive compensation programs are designed to attract and retain highly skilled and motivated officers who will manage the Company in a manner to promote our growth and profitability, prudently preserve our capital, and advance the interests of our shareholders. Under these programs, our named executive officers are rewarded for the achievement of specific annual, long-term and strategic goals, corporate goals, and the realization of increased shareholder value. Please read the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 16 for additional details about our executive compensation programs, including information about the fiscal year 2011 compensation of our named executive officers.
The Compensation Committee periodically reviews the compensation programs for our named executive officers to ensure they achieve the desired goal of striking a balance between recognition of recent achievements and aligning the interests of management on a longer-term basis with that of the Company's shareholders. We are asking our shareholders to indicate their support for our named executive officer compensation as described in this Proxy Statement by voting for this proposal. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives our shareholders the opportunity to express their views on our named executive officers' compensation. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the philosophy, policies and practices described in this Proxy Statement. Accordingly, we will ask our shareholders to vote “FOR” the following resolution at the Annual Meeting:
“RESOLVED, that the Company's shareholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the named executive officers, as disclosed in the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2012 Annual Meeting of Shareholders pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and related disclosure.”
The say-on-pay vote is advisory, and therefore not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee or our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors and our Compensation Committee value the opinions of our shareholders and to the extent there is any significant vote against the named executive officer compensation as disclosed in this Proxy Statement, we will consider our shareholders' concerns, and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any changes are necessary to address those concerns.
Pursuant to the vote of our shareholders at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, we will conduct an advisory and non-binding vote to approve our named executive compensation on an annual basis. The next advisory and non-binding vote to approve our named executive compensation will occur at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO THE COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE RULES OF THE SEC.
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RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
We recognize that maintaining the independence in fact and appearance for our directors and officers is critical. Therefore, we have certain policies and procedures in place to critically evaluate each transaction that could impact the independence of directors and officers. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics provides that directors and officers are expected to make appropriate disclosures to the Board or to the Compliance Officer under the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and to take steps to recuse themselves from Board decisions with respect to transactions or other matters involving us as to which they are interested parties or with respect to which a real or apparent conflict of interest exists. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines also provide that the Company will generally refrain from entering into contracts with Board members and their immediate family members or providing support directly or indirectly to organizations with which a Board member may be affiliated. In the event that we deem it appropriate to enter transactions with a Board member or a member of his immediate family, the terms of the transaction must be made in the ordinary course of business and on substantially the same terms as those prevailing at the time of a comparable transaction with a non-related person. The Board will also evaluate each of these transactions when the independence of the director is determined.
Our Board has adopted certain written policies and procedures, included within our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, for the review, approval and ratification of related person transactions, which we refer to as our Related Person Policy. Among other things, our Related Person Policy provides that, other than compensation matters which are ratified or approved by our Compensation Committee, a related person transaction is prohibited unless it is approved or ratified by the Audit Committee. A “related person transaction” is any transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which we were, are or will be a participant, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. Any related person transaction must be reported to the Chairman of the Audit Committee. A “related person,” as defined in our Related Person Policy, means any person who is an executive officer, director or nominee for director of the Company, any person who is the owner of more than 5% of any class of the Company's outstanding equity securities, any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons, which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law or any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of the executive officer, director, nominee or more than 5% owner, and any entity which is owned or controlled by any of the foregoing persons or in which one of the foregoing persons has a substantial ownership interest or control of such entity.
Under the Related Person Policy, proposed related person transactions are reported to the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Chairman will assess, with the assistance of counsel, if appropriate, whether the proposed transaction would be a related person transaction and, if so, the proposed related person transaction shall be submitted to the Audit Committee for consideration. In determining whether to approve or ratify the proposed related person transaction, the Audit Committee will consider, among other things, whether the related person transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, and, where applicable, whether the terms of such transaction are comparable to those that could be obtained in arms-length dealings with an unrelated third party. The Audit Committee notifies the related person of its determination.
Mr. Benedetti, the Company's Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, is the sole owner of ICD Holding, Inc. (“ICD Holding”), which is the parent corporation to its wholly-owned subsidiary DCI Commercial, Inc. (“DCI Commercial”). Mr. Benedetti became the sole owner of ICD Holding in 2002. The Company and DCI Commercial have been jointly named in litigation regarding the activities of DCI Commercial while it was an operating subsidiary of an affiliate of the Company. DCI Commercial has entered into a Litigation Cost Sharing Agreement with the Company whereby the Company agreed to fund all costs of litigation against the Company and DCI Commercial, including DCI Commercial's portion of the cost of the litigation. To date, DCI Commercial's cumulative portion of costs associated with the litigation and funded by the Company is $3.5 million and is secured by the proceeds of any counterclaims that DCI Commercial may receive in the litigation. Litigation costs paid by the Company on behalf of DCI Commercial are loans and carry simple interest at the rate of Prime plus 8% per annum. At December 31, 2011, the total amount due the Company under the Litigation Cost Sharing Agreement, including interest, was $7.4 million. ICD Holding has no assets other than its interest in DCI Commercial. Neither ICD Holding nor Mr. Benedetti expects to derive any monetary benefit from the arrangement other than the funding of the litigation costs. Neither ICD Holding nor DCI Commercial has made any payments to the Company. The Audit Committee has approved the Litigation Cost Sharing Agreement in accordance with our Related Person Policy.
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PROPOSAL THREE
RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION
OF THE COMPANY'S AUDITORS
The Board of Directors has selected the firm of BDO USA, LLP as independent certified public accountants to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012. BDO USA, LLP audited the financial statements of the Company since 2006, including for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.
In the event that shareholders do not ratify the selection of BDO USA, LLP, the Board of Directors will consider making a change in auditors for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013.
Representatives of BDO USA, LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have an opportunity to make a statement, if they desire to do so, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF BDO USA, LLP AS INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2012.
AUDIT INFORMATION
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees
The following information is furnished with respect to fees billed for professional services rendered to the Company by BDO USA, LLP for the audit of the Company's annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and fees billed for other services rendered by BDO USA, LLP during those periods.

|  | Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
|  |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010
Audit Fees (1) |  | $ | 426,080 |  |  | $ | 478,580 |
Audit-Related Fees (2) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
Tax Fees (3) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |
All Other Fees (4) |  |  | — |  |  |  | 14,400 |
Total |  | $ | 426,080 |  |  | $ | 492,980 |

(1) | Audit Fees include: (i) the audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements included in its annual report on Form 10-K and services attendant to, or required by, statute or regulation; (ii) reviews of the interim consolidated financial statements included in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; and (iii) comfort letters, consents and other services related to SEC and other regulatory filings.

(2) | Audit-Related Fees represent professional services for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company's consolidated financial statements and not reported under the heading “Audit Fees.”

(3) | Tax Fees include tax compliance, tax planning, tax advisory and related services.

(4) | During 2010, BDO USA, LLP performed certain agreed upon procedures related to the Company's master servicing responsibilities on certain securitization financing issuances.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
In accordance with the Audit Committee Charter, all audit (including audit-related) and non-audit services performed by BDO USA, LLP, as described above, were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm was compatible with the maintenance of that firm's independence
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in the conduct of its auditing functions. The Charter authorizes the Audit Committee to delegate to one or more of its members pre-approval authority with respect to permitted services. The decisions of any Audit Committee member to whom pre-approval authority is delegated must be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
Audit Committee Report
The following Audit Committee Report shall not be deemed to be soliciting material or to be incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating by reference this proxy statement into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates this Report therein, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such Acts.
The Audit Committee makes recommendations concerning the engagement of independent public accountants, reviews with the independent public accountants the plans and results of any audits, reviews other professional services provided by the independent public accountants, reviews the independence of the independent public accountants, considers the range of audit and non-audit fees and reviews the adequacy of internal accounting controls. The Audit Committee is composed of three directors, each of whom is independent for audit committee purposes, as defined by the regulations of the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange listing standards.
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management and the independent accountants the Company's audited financial statements and the results of their examination and evaluation of the Company's internal controls for fiscal year 2011. In addition, the Committee has discussed with the independent accountants the matters required to be discussed by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended, as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T.
The Audit Committee has received from the independent accountants written disclosures and a letter regarding BDO USA, LLP's communications with the Committee concerning independence, as required by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. These disclosures have been reviewed by the Committee, and the Committee has discussed with the independent accountant the independent accountant's independence.
Based on these reviews and discussions, the Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2011 for filing with the SEC.
Audit Committee
Daniel K. Osborne, Chairman
Barry Igdaloff
James C. Wheat, III
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
If any shareholder desires to present a proposal to be acted upon at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (including a nomination for director), written notice of such proposal must be received, in proper form, by the Secretary of the Company no later than January 4, 2013 and no earlier than October 6, 2012. The proxy solicited by the Board of Directors for the 2013 Annual Meeting will confer discretionary authority to vote on any shareholder proposal presented at the meeting if the Company has not received notice of such proposal within this time period, in writing delivered to the Company's Secretary. If any shareholder intends to present a proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials in connection with the 2013 Annual Meeting, the proposal must comply with Exchange Act Rule 14a-8 and must be received by the Company's Secretary, at the Company's principal office, on or before December 4, 2012.
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OTHER MATTERS
A copy of the Company's 2011 Annual Report to Shareholders is being provided to each shareholder with this Proxy Statement. A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2011 and a list of all its exhibits will be supplied without charge to any shareholder upon written request sent to the Company's principal executive offices: Dynex Capital, Inc., Attention: Investor Relations, 4991 Lake Brook Drive, Suite 100, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060. Exhibits to the Form 10-K are available for a reasonable fee. You may also view the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its exhibits online at the SEC web page at www.sec.gov or via the Company's web page at www.dynexcapital.com under “Investor Relations - SEC Filings”.
By the order of the Board of Directors
Stephen J. Benedetti
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and
Secretary
April 3, 2012
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