For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Q: Have you resumed originations since the closing of New Point, and what is the ideal portfolio size to get back to dividend coverage? A: Yes, we have resumed originations, starting slowly but expected to grow quarter over quarter. We aim for a core portfolio size of around $5 billion, which aligns with our long-term dividend coverage goals. (Mike Comrao, President, and Jerry Baglian, CFO & COO)
Q: What are you seeing in terms of spreads compared to a year ago? A: Spreads are meaningfully tighter than a year ago, with a significant influx of liquidity in the market. We are about 100 to 125 basis points tighter on multi-family loans compared to last year. (Mike Comrao, President)
Q: Can you explain the process and impact of calling CLOs? A: Calling CLOs involves re-leveraging them to free up equity for reinvestment. This process will likely involve a combination of bank debt and new CLO issuance, allowing us to ramp up originations and grow our loan book. (Jerry Baglian, CFO & COO)