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Filed Pursuant To Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No: 333-195499

        PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated May 8, 2014)

3,500,000 Shares

COMMON STOCK

        Five Oaks Investment Corp. is a Maryland corporation focused on investing in, financing and managing a leveraged portfolio of mortgage-backed securities, including non-agency and agency residential mortgage-backed securities, multi-family mortgage-backed securities, residential mortgage loans, mortgage servicing rights and other mortgage-related investments. We are externally managed and advised by Oak Circle Capital Partners LLC, or our Manager.

        We are offering 3,500,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share, as described in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol "OAKS." The last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE on June 18, 2014 was $11.89.

        We elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or a REIT, commencing with our short taxable year ended December 31, 2012. To assist us in qualifying as a REIT, stockholders are generally restricted from owning more than 9.8% by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our outstanding shares of common stock. Our board of directors has granted XL Investments Ltd, or XL Investments (an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of XL Group plc (NYSE: XL)), an exemption from this ownership limitation. Our charter contains various other restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our common stock. See "Description of Common Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer of Our Capital Stock." in the accompanying prospectus.

        We are an "emerging growth company" under applicable federal securities laws, and, as such, we are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

        Investing in our common stock involves risks. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement for a discussion of risks.

        Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any securities commission of any state or other jurisdiction has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

        The underwriters will purchase the common stock from us at a price of $11.00 per share, resulting in $38.3 million of aggregate net proceeds to us after expenses.

        The underwriters may offer the shares of our common stock from time to time to purchasers directly or through agents, or through brokers in brokerage transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, or to dealers in negotiated transactions or in a combination of such methods of sale, at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. See "Underwriting."

        We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase an additional 525,000 shares of our common stock from us at the price per share set forth above within 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement. The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of common stock to investors in this offering on or about June 24, 2014.

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Book-Running Manager

JMP Securities LLC

Lead-Manager

Ladenburg Thalmann

Co-Manager

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities

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Prospectus supplement dated June 19, 2014.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

        This document is in two parts. The first part is the prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and also updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the information contained in the accompanying prospectus, the information in this prospectus supplement shall control. In addition, any statement in a filing we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, that adds to, updates or changes information contained in an earlier filing we made with the SEC shall be deemed to modify and supersede such information in the earlier filing.

        Before you buy any of our shares of common stock, it is important for you to consider the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus together with additional information described under the headings "Incorporation by Reference Of Information Filed with the SEC" and "Where You Can Find More Information." The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference information that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus supplement, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, and the accompanying prospectus, or any applicable free writing prospectus. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in any jurisdiction to or from any person to whom or from whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Neither we nor the underwriters are making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, and the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by us and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate only as of their respective dates or on the date or dates which are specified in these documents. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

        In this prospectus supplement, except where the context suggests otherwise, the terms "company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Five Oaks Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation, and "our Manager" or "Oak Circle" refers to Oak Circle Capital Partners LLC, our external manager. In addition, the following defines certain of the commonly used terms in this prospectus supplement:

        "Agency" means each of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae.

        "Fannie Mae" means the Federal National Mortgage Association.

        "Freddie Mac" means the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.

        "Ginnie Mae" means the Government National Mortgage Association, a wholly owned corporate instrumentality of the United States of America within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ginnie Mae is a U.S. Government agency.

        "mortgage loans" means loans secured by real estate with a right to receive the payment of principal and interest on the loan (including servicing fees).

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        We make forward-looking statements in this prospectus supplement that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "may" or similar expressions or other comparable terms, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking:

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the use of proceeds from the sales of our shares;



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our business and investment strategy;



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our projected operating results;



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our ability to obtain financing arrangements;



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financing and advance rates for residential mortgage-backed securities, or RMBS, and other mortgage-related investments;



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our expected leverage;



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general volatility of the securities markets in which we invest and the market price of our capital stock;



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our expected investments;



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interest rate mismatches between RMBS and other mortgage-related investments and our borrowings used to fund such investments;



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changes in interest rates and the market value of RMBS and other mortgage-related investments;



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changes in prepayment rates on RMBS;



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effects of hedging instruments on RMBS and other mortgage-related investments;



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rates of default or decreased recovery rates on RMBS and other mortgage-related investments;



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the degree to which any hedging strategies may or may not protect us from interest rate volatility;



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impact of and changes in governmental regulations, tax law and rates, accounting guidance and similar matters;



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our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT;



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our ability to maintain our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act;



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availability of investment opportunities in mortgage-related, real estate-related and other securities;



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availability of qualified personnel;



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estimates relating to our ability to make distributions to holders of our capital stock in the future;

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our understanding of our competition; and



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market trends in our industry, interest rates, real estate values, the debt securities markets or the general economy.

        Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance, taking into account all information currently available to us. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us. Some of these factors are described in "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement and set forth under the sections captioned "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," which are incorporated herein by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

        All subsequent written forward-looking statements that we make, or that are attributable to us, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to, and do not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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RISK FACTORS

        Investment in the shares of common stock offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus involves risks. In addition to the information presented in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the risk factors in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should consider carefully the following risk factors before deciding to purchase shares of our common stock.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

The market price and trading volume of our common stock may vary substantially.

        Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "OAKS." Stock markets, including the NYSE, have experienced significant price and volume fluctuations over the past several years. As a result, the market price of our common stock is likely to be similarly volatile, and investors in our common stock may experience a decrease in the value of their shares. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the ability of our stockholders to sell their common stock or the price that our stockholders may obtain for their common stock.

        Some of the factors that could negatively affect the market price of our common stock include:

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actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly operating results;



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changes in our earnings estimates or publication of research reports about us or the real estate industry;



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changes in market valuations of similar companies;



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adverse market reaction to any increased indebtedness we incur in the future;



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additions to or departures of our Manager's key personnel;



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actions by our stockholders; and



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speculation in the press or investment community.

Market factors unrelated to our performance could negatively impact the market price of our common stock, and broad market fluctuations could also negatively impact the market price of our common stock.

        Market factors unrelated to our performance could negatively impact the market price of our common stock. One of the factors that investors may consider in deciding whether to buy or sell our common stock is our distribution rate as a percentage of our stock price relative to market interest rates. If market interest rates increase, prospective investors may demand a higher distribution rate or seek alternative investments paying higher distributions or interest. As a result, interest rate fluctuations and conditions in the capital markets can affect the market value of our common stock. For instance, if interest rates rise, it is likely that the market price of our common stock will decrease as market rates on interest-bearing securities increase. In addition, the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market price of many companies in industries similar or related to ours and that have been unrelated to these companies' operating performances. These broad market fluctuations could reduce the market price of our common stock. Furthermore, our operating results and prospects may be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors or may be lower than those of companies with comparable market capitalizations, which could lead to a material decline in the market price of our common stock.

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The performance of our common stock will correlate to the performance of our REIT investments, which may be speculative and aggressive compared to other types of investments.

        The investments we make in accordance with our investment objectives may result in a greater amount of risk as compared to alternative investment options, including relatively higher risk of volatility or loss of principal. Our investments may be speculative and aggressive, and therefore an investment in our common stock may not be suitable for someone with lower risk tolerance.

        One of the factors that investors may consider in deciding whether to buy or sell shares of our common stock is our distribution rate as a percentage of the trading price of our common stock relative to market interest rates. If the market price of our common stock is based primarily on the earnings and return that we derive from our investments and income with respect to our investments and our related distributions to stockholders, and not from the market value of the investments themselves, then interest rate fluctuations and capital market conditions are likely to affect adversely the market price of our common stock. For instance, if market rates rise without an increase in our distribution rate, the market price of our common stock could decrease as potential investors may require a higher distribution yield on our common stock or seek other securities paying higher distributions or interest. In addition, rising interest rates would result in increased interest expense on our variable rate debt, thereby reducing cash flow and our ability to service our indebtedness and make distributions to our stockholders.

Common stock eligible for future sale may have adverse effects on our share price.

        We are offering 3,500,000 shares of our common stock to the public pursuant to this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus (assuming the underwriters' option to purchase up to an additional 525,000 shares of our common stock is not exercised). In addition, under our Manager Equity Plan, we will be able to issue a number of shares of common stock equivalent to 3.0% of our issued and outstanding common stock (on a fully diluted basis) at the time of the award (other than any shares subject to awards made under the Manager Equity Plan).

        We, our Manager, our directors and officers and the executive officers of our Manager have agreed with the underwriters to a 60-day, and XL Investments has agreed to a 45-day, lock-up period (subject to extension in certain circumstances), meaning that, until the end of the 60-day or 45-day, as applicable, lock-up period, we, our Manager, each of our officers and directors, each executive officer of our Manager and XL Investments will not, subject to certain exceptions, sell or transfer any shares of common stock without the prior consent of JMP Securities LLC, which is acting as the representative of the underwriters. The representative of the underwriters may, in its sole discretion, at any time from time to time and without notice, waive the terms and conditions of the lock-up agreements to which it is a party. Assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional shares, 37.7% of our shares of common stock will be subject to lock-up agreements. When the lock-up periods expire, these shares of common stock will become eligible for sale, though in some cases these shares will be "restricted securities" as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

        We cannot predict the effect, if any, of future sales of our common stock, or the availability of shares for future sales, on the market price of our common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of common stock or the perception that such sales could occur may adversely affect the prevailing market price for our common stock.

        Also, we may issue additional shares in subsequent public offerings or private placements to make new investments or for other purposes. We are not required to offer any such shares to existing stockholders on a preemptive basis. Therefore, it may not be possible for existing stockholders to participate in such future share issuances, which may dilute the existing stockholders' interests in us.

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We have not established a minimum distribution payment level and we cannot assure you of our ability to make distributions in the future.

        Although our board of directors has declared certain dividends, we have not established a minimum distribution payment level and our ability to make distributions may be adversely affected by the risk factors described in this prospectus supplement and in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for future periods. All distributions to our common stockholders will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our earnings, our financial condition, maintenance of our REIT status and such other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant from time to time. There can be no assurance of our ability to make distributions to our common stockholders in the future. In addition, some of our distributions to our common stockholders may include a return of capital.

Future offerings of debt or equity securities that rank senior to our common stock may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

        In December 2013, we issued 800,000 shares of 8.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, or the Series A Preferred Stock, and in January 2014, we issued an additional 120,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock upon the exercise of the underwriters' overallotment option; and in May 2014, we issued a further 690,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, including 90,000 shares issued pursuant to the underwriters' over-allotment option. If we decide to issue debt or additional equity securities in the future that rank senior to our common stock, it is likely that they will be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock and may result in dilution to owners of our common stock. We and, indirectly, our stockholders, will bear the cost of issuing and servicing such securities. Because our decision to issue debt or equity securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus holders of our common stock will bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and diluting the value of their stock holdings in us. Furthermore, the compensation payable to our Manager will increase as a result of future issuances of our equity securities even if the issuances are dilutive to existing stockholders.

The dilutive effect of future issuances of our common stock could have an adverse effect on the future market price of our common stock or otherwise adversely affect the interests of our common stockholders.

        The warrants issued to XL Investments on September 29, 2012 entitle XL Investments to purchase an aggregate of 3,125,000 shares of our common stock, have an initial exercise price equal to $15.75 (subject to adjustment and limitation on exercise in certain circumstances), became exercisable on July 25, 2013 and are exercisable for seven years after the date of the warrants' issuance. The exercise of the warrants in the future would be dilutive to holders of our common stock if our book value per share or the market price of our common stock is higher than the exercise price at the time of exercise. The potential for dilution from the warrants could have an adverse effect on the future market price of our common stock.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

        We estimate that the net proceeds after expenses from this offering will be $38.3 million (or $44.0 million if the underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase additional shares).

        Subject to prevailing market conditions at the time of purchase, we intend to invest the net proceeds from this offering to purchase non-Agency mortgage assets (including Prime Jumbo Residential Whole Loans, other mortgage loans and New Issue Non-Agency RMBS), Multi-Family MBS, Legacy Non-Agency RMBS and, to a lesser extent, Agency RMBS.

        Until appropriate investments can be identified, our Manager may invest the net proceeds from this offering in interest-bearing short-term investments, including money market accounts and/or funds that are consistent with our intention to maintain our REIT qualification and our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. These initial investments, if any, are expected to provide a lower net return than we will seek to achieve from investments in our target assets.

        Prior to the time we have fully used the net proceeds of this offering to acquire Legacy Non-Agency RMBS, non-Agency mortgage assets (including New Issue Non-Agency RMBS and mortgage loans, including Prime Jumbo Residential Whole Loans), Multi-Family MBS and, possibly Agency RMBS, we may fund our monthly distributions out of such net proceeds.

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UNDERWRITING

        JMP Securities LLC is acting as the representative of the underwriters. Under the terms of an underwriting agreement, which will be dated the date of this prospectus, each of the underwriters named below has severally agreed to purchase from us the respective number of shares of common stock shown opposite its name below:

        The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters' obligation to purchase shares of common stock depends on the satisfaction of the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, including:

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the obligation to purchase all of the shares of common stock offered hereby (other than those shares of common stock covered by their option to purchase additional shares as described below), if any of the shares are purchased;



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the representations and warranties made by us to the underwriters are true;



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there is no material change in our business or the financial markets; and



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we deliver customary closing documents to the underwriters.

        The underwriters will purchase the shares of our common stock from us at a price of $11.00 per share, resulting in aggregate net proceeds after expenses to us of $38.3 million (or $44.0 million if the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares described below is exercised in full).

        The underwriters may offer shares of our common stock from time to time to purchasers directly or through agents, or through brokers in brokerage transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, or to dealers in negotiated transactions or in a combination of such methods of sale, at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices, subject to receipt and acceptance by it and subject to its right to reject any order in whole or in part.

        We estimate that our total expenses incurred in connection with this offering will be approximately $250,000.

Option to Purchase Additional Shares

        We have granted the underwriters an option exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus to purchase, from time to time, in whole or in part, up to an aggregate of 525,000 shares of common stock at the public offering price less underwriting discount and commissions. To the extent that this option is exercised, each underwriter will be obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase its pro rata portion of these additional shares based on the underwriter's underwriting commitment in the offering as indicated in the table at the beginning of this "Underwriting" section.

Lock-Up Agreements

        We and each of our Manager, our directors and officers and the executive officers of our Manager will agree that, without the prior written consent of JMP Securities LLC, subject to limited exceptions, we and they will not directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of (or

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enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any shares of common stock (including, without limitation, shares of common stock that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by us or them in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and shares of common stock that may be issued upon exercise of any options or warrants) or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock; (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common stock; (3) make any demand for or exercise any right or file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any shares of common stock or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into common stock or any of our other securities; or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing for a period of 60 days after the date of this prospectus.

        Additionally, XL Investments will agree that, for a period of 45 days after the date of this prospectus, it will not, without the prior written consent of JMP Securities LLC, subject to limited exceptions, offer for sale, sell, pledge, dispose of or hedge any of (1) its shares of our common stock, including any shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, (2) its warrants or (3) its shares of our common stock that it may acquire upon or after the completion of this offering.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon five business days' prior written notice to JMP Securities LLC, XL Investments may transfer any of the foregoing securities to any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of XL Group plc; provided, however, it is a condition to any such transfer that the transferee execute a similar lock-up agreement stating that such transferee is receiving and holding such securities subject to the provisions of the agreement pursuant to which these persons agree not to sell or transfer any of the foregoing securities for the remainder of the 45-day period described above.

        JMP Securities LLC, in its sole discretion, may release the common stock and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time with or without notice. When determining whether or not to release common stock and other securities from lock-up agreements, JMP Securities LLC will consider, among other factors, the holder's reasons for requesting the release, the number of shares of common stock and other securities for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time.

Indemnification

        We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make for these liabilities.

Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids

        The underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, short sales and purchases to cover positions created by short sales and penalty bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the common stock, in each case as described below, in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act:

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Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.



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A short position involves a sale by the underwriters of shares in excess of the number of shares the underwriters are obligated to purchase in the offering, which creates the syndicate short position. This short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of shares involved in the sales made by the underwriters in excess of the number of shares they are obligated to purchase is not greater than the number of

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shares that they may purchase by exercising their option to purchase additional shares. In a naked short position, the number of shares involved is greater than the number of shares in their option to purchase additional shares. The underwriters may close out any short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares and/or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through their option to purchase additional shares. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

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Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.



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Penalty bids permit the representatives to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the common stock originally sold by the syndicate member is purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.

        These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock. As a result, the price of the common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on the NYSE or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

        Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the common stock. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representatives will engage in these stabilizing transactions or that any transaction, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Electronic Distribution

        A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites or through other online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters and/or selling group members participating in this offering, or by their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and, depending upon the particular underwriter or selling group member, prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a specific number of shares for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the representatives on the same basis as other allocations.

        Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriter's or selling group member's web site and any information contained in any other web site maintained by an underwriter or selling group member is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or any underwriter or selling group member in its capacity as underwriter or selling group member and should not be relied upon by investors.

NYSE

        Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "OAKS".

Discretionary Sales

        The underwriters have informed us that they do not intend to confirm sales to discretionary accounts that exceed 5% of the total number of shares offered by them.

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Stamp Taxes

        If you purchase shares of common stock offered in this prospectus, you may be required to pay stamp taxes and other charges under the laws and practices of the country of purchase, in addition to the offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus.

Relationships

        JMP Securities LLC served as an underwriter for our public offering of common stock completed in February 2014. Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. served as an underwriter for our public offering of common stock completed in March 2013 and as an underwriter for our public offerings of Series A Preferred Stock completed in December 2013 and May 2014. Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc. served as an underwriter for our public offerings of common stock completed in March 2013 and March 2014, served as an underwriter for our public offerings of Series A Preferred Stock completed in December 2013 and May 2014 and is a distribution agent for our at-the-market program established in May 2014. Certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates have in the past engaged, and may in the future engage, in commercial and investment banking transactions with us in the ordinary course of their business. They have received, and expect to receive, customary compensation and expense reimbursement for these commercial and investment banking transactions.

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LEGAL MATTERS

        Certain legal matters relating to this offering will be passed upon for us by Kaye Scholer LLP, New York, New York and certain matters of Maryland law relating to this offering by Foley & Lardner LLP. Certain legal matters relating to this offering will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson LLP.

EXPERTS

        The audited financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and elsewhere in the registration statement have been incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any documents filed by us at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, which form a part of the registration statement, do not contain all the information in the registration statement. Wherever a reference is made in this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus to a contract or other documents of ours, the reference is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC's public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.

        Our Internet address is www.fiveoaksinvestment.com. We make available free of charge, on or through the "Investor Relations—SEC Filings" section of our website, quarterly reports on 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Information on our website is not part of this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF INFORMATION FILED WITH THE SEC

        The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus which has been previously filed, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, except for any information superseded by information included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. We have filed the documents listed below with the SEC (File No. 001-35845) under the Exchange Act and these documents, along with our future filings (other than information furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 in Current Reports on Form 8-K), are incorporated herein by reference until the offerings are completed:

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our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, filed March 12, 2014, and the portions of the Company's proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the Company's annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 17, 2014, that are incorporated therein;

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our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on May 9, 2014;



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our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 26, 2014, May 14, 2014, May 27, 2014, May 30, 2014 and June 17, 2014; and



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the description of our common stock included in our registration statement on Form 8-A (filed March 19, 2013).

        All documents we file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities to which this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relates (other than information in such documents that is furnished and not deemed to be filed) shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of those documents. All documents we file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement that contains this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing those documents.

        We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus (other than the exhibits to such documents which are not specifically incorporated by reference herein); we will provide this information at no cost to the requester upon written or oral request to Five Oaks Investment Corp., 540 Madison Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Corporate Secretary; telephone number (212) 257-5070. You may also obtain copies of this information by visiting our website at www.fiveoaksinvestment.com. Information on our website is not part of this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus.

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PROSPECTUS

$750,000,000

Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants

        Five Oaks Investment Corp. is a Maryland corporation focused on investing in, financing and managing a leveraged portfolio of mortgage-backed securities, including non-agency and agency residential mortgage-backed securities, multi-family mortgage-backed securities, residential mortgage loans, mortgage servicing rights and other mortgage-related investments. We are externally managed and advised by Oak Circle Capital Partners LLC, or our Manager. Our Manager is majority owned by its employees (including all of our officers), with a minority stake held by XL Global, Inc., a subsidiary of XL Group plc (NYSE: XL). XL Group plc, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a global insurance and reinsurance company, and actively invests in alternative investment funds, private investment funds and investment management companies.

        We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings or series, up to $750,000,000 of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or warrants representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, which we refer to, collectively, as the "securities." The preferred stock, debt securities and warrants offered hereby may be convertible or exchangeable into shares of our common stock. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. Before investing, you should carefully read this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement.

        Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "OAKS." On April 24, 2014, the last reported sales price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $11.52 per share.

        We elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or a REIT, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, commencing with our short taxable year ended December 31, 2012. To preserve our qualification as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes, among other purposes, we impose certain restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our capital stock. See "Description of Common Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer of Our Capital Stock."

        We are an "emerging growth company" under applicable federal securities laws, and, as such, we are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

        Investing in our securities involves material risks and uncertainties that should be considered. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 5 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

        You should carefully read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, before you invest in our securities. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

        Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any securities commission of any state or other jurisdiction has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Prospectus dated May 8, 2014.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

        This prospectus is part of a shelf registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. Under this shelf registration statement, we may offer and sell any combination of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and warrants in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer to sell securities under this shelf registration statement, we will provide a prospectus supplement which will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Before you buy any of our securities, it is important for you to consider the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the headings "Incorporation By Reference Of Information Filed With The SEC" and "Where You Can Find More Information."

        The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference information that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in any jurisdiction to or from any person to whom or from whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus prepared by us and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate only as of their respective dates or on the date or dates which are specified in these documents. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

        In this prospectus, except where the context suggests otherwise, the terms "company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Five Oaks Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation, and "our Manager" refers to Oak Circle Capital Partners LLC, our external manager. In addition, the following defines certain of the commonly used terms in this prospectus:

        " Agency " means each of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae.

        " Fannie Mae " means the Federal National Mortgage Association.

        " Freddie Mac " means the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.

        " Ginnie Mae " means the Government National Mortgage Association, a wholly owned corporate instrumentality of the United States of America within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ginnie Mae is a U.S. Government agency.

        " Linked Transaction " means the initial purchase of residential mortgage-backed securities and contemporaneous financing with a repurchase agreement with the same counterparty from which the securities were purchased.

        " mortgage loans " means loans secured by real estate with a right to receive the payment of principal and interest on the loan (including servicing fees).

        " TBAs " means to-be-announced forward contracts. In a TBA, a buyer will agree to purchase, for future delivery, Agency mortgage investments with certain principal and interest terms and certain types of underlying collateral, but the particular Agency mortgage investments to be delivered are not identified until shortly before the TBA settlement date.

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        We make forward-looking statements in this prospectus that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "may" or similar expressions or other comparable terms, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking:

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the use of proceeds of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement;



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our business and investment strategy;



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our projected operating results;



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our ability to obtain financing arrangements;



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financing and advance rates for residential mortgage-backed securities, or RMBS, and other mortgage-related investments;



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our expected leverage;



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general volatility of the securities markets in which we invest and the market price of our capital stock;



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our expected investments;



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our estimated book value per common share;



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interest rate mismatches between RMBS and other mortgage-related investments and our borrowings used to fund such investments;



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changes in interest rates and the market value of RMBS and other mortgage-related investments;



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changes in prepayment rates on RMBS;



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effects of hedging instruments on RMBS and other mortgage-related investments;



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rates of default or decreased recovery rates on RMBS and other mortgage-related investments;



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the degree to which any hedging strategies may or may not protect us from interest rate volatility;



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impact of and changes in governmental regulations, tax law and rates, accounting guidance and similar matters;



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our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT;



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our ability to maintain our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act;



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availability of investment opportunities in mortgage-related, real estate-related and other securities;



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availability of qualified personnel;



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estimates relating to our ability to make distributions to holders of our capital stock in the future;

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our understanding of our competition; and



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market trends in our industry, interest rates, real estate values, the debt securities markets or the general economy.

        Forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future performance, taking into account all information currently available to us. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us. Some of these factors are described in this prospectus, including those set forth under the sections captioned " Risk Factors " and " Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, " which are incorporated herein by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

        All subsequent written forward-looking statements that we make, or that are attributable to us, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to, and do not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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OUR COMPANY

        We are a Maryland corporation focused on investing in, financing and managing a leveraged portfolio of mortgage-backed securities and other mortgage-related investments, including:

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Non-Agency RMBS, which are residential mortgage-backed securities that are not issued or guaranteed by a U.S. Government-sponsored entity;



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Agency RMBS, which are residential mortgage-backed securities for which a U.S. Government agency, such as Ginnie Mae or a federally chartered corporation such as Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, guarantees payments of principal and interest on the securities;



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Multi-Family MBS, which are securitizations backed by multi-family mortgage loans;



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residential mortgage loans;



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MSRs, which are mortgage servicing rights; and



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other mortgage-related investments,

which we collectively refer to as our target assets. We were formed in March 2012 and commenced operations in May 2012 after raising $26.2 million of net proceeds in a private placement. We completed our initial public offering, or IPO, in March 2013, pursuant to which we sold 4,033,333 shares of our common stock to the public. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., or the NYSE, under the symbol "OAKS". Concurrently with our IPO, we also sold 1,666,667 shares of our common stock to XL Investments Ltd, or XL Investments, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of XL Group plc (NYSE: XL). In December 2013, we issued 800,000 shares of 8.75% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, or the Series A Preferred Stock, and in January 2014, we issued an additional 120,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Our Series A Preferred Stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol "OAKS-PRA". In February 2014, we completed a public offering of 3,300,000 shares of common stock.

        We are externally managed and advised by Oak Circle Capital Partners LLC, or our Manager, pursuant to a management agreement between us and our Manager. Our Manager, which was formed for the purpose of becoming our Manager, manages us exclusively and, unless and until our Manager agrees to manage any additional investment vehicle, it will not have to allocate investment opportunities in our target assets with any other REIT, investment pool or other entity. As our Manager, our Manager implements our business strategy, performs investment advisory services and activities with respect to our assets and is responsible for performing all of our day-to-day operations. Our Manager is an investment adviser registered with the SEC.

        We believe that our hybrid model of investing in Non-Agency RMBS, Agency RMBS and other mortgage-related investments positions us to benefit from anticipated changes in the residential mortgage market in the coming years as the role of U.S. Government-sponsored entities such as Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, or GSEs, is reduced, providing us with attractive investment opportunities across the breadth of the mortgage sector.

        Our objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns to our investors, primarily through dividends and secondarily through capital appreciation. To achieve this objective, we currently, or expect to, invest in Non-Agency RMBS, Agency RMBS, and residential mortgage loans and other mortgage-related investments, including Multi-Family MBS and MSRs.

        We intend to achieve our objective by selectively acquiring and managing a diversified investment portfolio of our target assets designed to produce attractive returns across a variety of market conditions and economic cycles. We fund the acquisition of our assets through the use of leverage from multiple counterparties, currently through borrowings under a series of short-term repurchase

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agreements. We generate returns from the spread or difference between what we earn on our assets and our costs, including the cost of funds we borrow after giving effect to our hedging activities.

        We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or Internal Revenue Code, commencing with our short taxable year ended December 31, 2012, and generally are not subject to U.S. federal income taxes on our income to the extent we currently distribute our income to our stockholders and maintain our qualification as a REIT. Maintenance of our qualification as a REIT will depend on our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, various complex requirements under the Internal Revenue Code relating to, among other things, the source of our gross income, the composition and values of our assets, our distribution levels and the concentration of ownership of our capital stock. We also intend to operate our business in a manner that will permit us to maintain our exclusion from registration under the Investment Company Act.

        Our principal executive offices are located at 540 Madison Avenue, 19^th Floor, New York, New York 10022. Our telephone number is (212) 257-5070. Our website is www.fiveoaksinvestment.com. The contents of our website are not a part of this prospectus. The information on our website is not intended to form a part of or be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

RISK FACTORS

        Investing in our securities involves substantial risks, including the risk that you might lose your entire investment. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully read and consider all of the information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including the risk factors and other information set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended and supplemented from time to time, as updated by those risk factors included in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our other filings with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act (which information is incorporated by reference in this prospectus). For a description of the reports and documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and information about where you can find them, see "Where You Can Find More Information" and "Incorporation by Reference of Information Filed with the SEC" below. Any one of the risks discussed could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, tax status, and results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or not identified may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, tax status, and results of operations.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

        The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for each of the periods presented.

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        For each period, we computed the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends by dividing earnings by the sum of fixed charges and dividends on then-outstanding shares of preferred stock. Fixed charges consist of interest costs, whether expensed or capitalized, including interest expense attributable to linked repurchase agreement borrowings underlying Linked Transactions and the net periodic interest settlements under interest rate swaps. For the period January 22, 2013 to March 28, 2013, we had 100 shares of 12.5% Cumulative Non-Voting Redeemable Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. On December 23, 2013, we issued 800,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and so for the period from December 23, 2013 to December 31, 2013, we had 800,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. For all other periods presented in the table above, no shares of preferred stock were outstanding.

        On January 22, 2013, we issued 100 shares of 12.5% Cumulative Non-Voting Redeemable Preferred Stock at a price of $1,000. Such shares were redeemed on March 28, 2013, shortly after the completion of our IPO. This table does not include the 120,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued in January 2014.

USE OF PROCEEDS

        Except as may be set forth in a particular prospectus supplement, we will add the net proceeds from sales of securities to our general corporate funds, which we may use for new investments in our target assets in accordance with our investment strategy in place at such time or for other general corporate purposes. Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of such offering and will be described in the related prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

        This prospectus contains a summary description of the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and warrants that we may offer from time to time. As further described in this prospectus, these summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. The particular terms of any security will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement and other offering material. The accompanying prospectus supplement may update, change or add to the terms and conditions of the securities as described in this prospectus.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

        The following summary description of our common stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to Maryland law, our charter and our bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See "Where You Can Find More Information."

General

        Our charter provides that we may issue up to 450,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of April 24, 2014, 13,814,250 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding on a fully diluted basis. Our charter authorizes our board of directors to amend our charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue without stockholder approval. Under Maryland law, stockholders are not generally liable for our debts or obligations.

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Voting Rights

        Subject to the provisions of our charter restricting the transfer and ownership of shares of our stock and except as may otherwise be specified in the terms of any class or series of stock, each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors, and, except as provided with respect to any other class or series of shares of our stock, the holders of our common stock possess exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which means that the holders of a plurality of the outstanding shares of common stock, voting as a single class, may elect all of the directors then standing for election.

        In accordance with Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business unless declared advisable by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter, unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in the corporation's charter. Our charter provides that such matters may be approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding a majority of the shares entitled to vote on the matter, except for amendments to our charter relating to restrictions on transfer and ownership of shares, removal of directors or the voting requirement relating to these actions which require the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter. This may discourage others from entering into such transactions with us and increase the difficulty of consummating any such transaction.

        Maryland law permits the merger of a 90% or more owned subsidiary with or into its parent without stockholder approval provided (1) the charter of the successor is not amended other than in certain minor respects (such as the name of the successor) and (2) the contract rights of any stock of the successor issued in the merger in exchange for stock of the other corporation are identical to the contract rights of the stock for which it is exchanged. Also, because Maryland law may not require the stockholders of a parent corporation to approve a merger or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of a subsidiary entity, our subsidiaries may be able to merge or sell all or substantially all of their assets without a vote of our stockholders.

Dividends, liquidation and other rights

        All of our outstanding shares of common stock are duly authorized, fully paid and non-assessable. Holders of our shares of common stock are entitled to receive dividends or other distributions if and when authorized by our board of directors and declared by us out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends or other distributions. They also are entitled to share ratably in our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after payment of or adequate provision for all of our known debts and liabilities. These rights are subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of our stock and to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on transfer and ownership of our stock.

        Holders of our shares of common stock generally have no appraisal, preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund or redemption rights and have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities. Subject to the restrictions on transfer of capital stock contained in our charter, all shares of common stock have equal dividend, liquidation and other rights.

Power to Issue Additional Shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock

        Our charter also authorizes our board of directors to amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of capital stock of any class or series that we have the authority to issue, to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock and preferred stock into any

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other classes or series of classes of our stock, to establish the number of shares in each class or series and to set the terms, preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each such class or series. We believe that the power of our board of directors to take these actions provides us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that might arise. The additional classes or series, as well as our common stock, are available for issuance without further action by our stockholders, unless stockholder action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. Although our board of directors has no intention at the present time of doing so, it could authorize us to issue a class or series that could, depending upon the terms of such class or series, delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control of us that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock that our common stockholders or otherwise believe to be in their best interest.

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer of our Capital Stock

        In order to maintain our qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code for each taxable year beginning after December 31, 2012, our shares of capital stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, for our taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, during the second half of each taxable year no more than 50% of the value of our outstanding shares of capital stock may be owned, directly or constructively, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code to include certain entities).

        Our charter, subject to certain exceptions, contains restrictions on the number of shares of our capital stock that a person may own and may prohibit certain entities from owning our shares. Our charter prohibits, with certain exceptions described below, any stockholder from beneficially or constructively owning, applying certain attribution rules under the Internal Revenue Code, more than 9.8% by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our outstanding shares of common stock, or 9.8% by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of our outstanding capital stock. Pursuant to our charter, our board of directors has the power to increase or decrease the percentage of common or capital stock that a person may beneficially or constructively own. However, any decreased stock ownership limit will not apply to any person whose percentage ownership of our common or capital stock, as the case may be, is in excess of such decreased stock ownership limit until that person's percentage ownership of our common or capital stock, as the case may be, equals or falls below the decreased stock ownership limit. Until such a person's percentage ownership of our common or capital stock, as the case may be, falls below such decreased stock ownership limit, any further acquisition of common stock will be in violation of the decreased stock ownership limit.

        Our charter also prohibits any person from beneficially or constructively owning shares of our capital stock that would result in our being "closely held" under Section 856(h) of the Internal Revenue Code or otherwise cause us to fail to maintain our REIT qualification and from transferring shares of our capital stock if the transfer would result in our capital stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons. Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of our capital stock that may violate any of the foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership, or who is the intended transferee of shares of our capital stock that are transferred to the trust (as described below), is required to give written notice immediately to us and provide us (or, in the case of such a proposal or attempted transaction, give at least 15 days prior written notice) with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect of such transfer on our qualification as a REIT. The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if our board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to qualify, or to continue to qualify, as a REIT.

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        Our board of directors, in its sole discretion, may exempt a person from the 9.8% ownership limit. The person seeking an exemption must provide to our board of directors such representations and undertakings and satisfy such conditions, in each case as our board of directors may deem reasonably necessary to conclude that granting the exemption will not cause us to lose our qualification as a REIT. Our board of directors may also require a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, or an opinion of counsel in order to determine or ensure our qualification as a REIT in the context of granting such exemptions. Our board of directors has granted XL Investments an exemption from the 9.8% ownership limit. As of April 24, 2014, XL Investments owns 30.29% of our common stock, 46.06% after giving effect to the exercise of warrants owned by XL Investments in full, which became exercisable on July 25, 2013 (120 days following the closing of our IPO).

        Any purported transfer of our capital stock which, if effective, would result in a violation of the foregoing restrictions (other than a transfer that would result in our capital stock being owned by fewer than 100 persons, which shall be void ab initio) will cause the number of shares causing the violation (rounded up to the nearest whole share) to be automatically transferred to a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries, and the proposed transferee will not acquire any rights in such shares. The automatic transfer will be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the business day (as defined in our charter) prior to the date of the transfer. If, for any reason, the transfer to the trust does not occur or would not prevent a violation of the restrictions on ownership contained in our charter, our charter provides that the purported transfer will be void ab initio. Shares of our capital stock held in the trust will be issued and outstanding shares. The proposed transferee will not benefit economically from ownership of any shares of our capital stock held in the trust, will have no rights to dividends and no rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares of capital stock held in the trust. The trustee of the trust will have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to shares held in the trust. These rights will be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the charitable beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to our discovery that shares of capital stock have been transferred to the trust will be paid by the recipient to the trustee upon demand. Any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid will be paid when due to the trustee. Any dividend or distribution paid to the trustee will be held in trust for the charitable beneficiary. Subject to Maryland law, the trustee will have the authority to rescind as void any vote cast by the proposed transferee prior to our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust and to recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary. However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee will not have the authority to rescind and recast the vote.

        Within 20 days of receiving notice from us that shares of our capital stock have been transferred to the trust, the trustee will sell the shares to a person designated by the trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the above ownership limitations. Upon such sale, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the proposed transferee and to the charitable beneficiary as follows: the proposed transferee will receive the lesser of (1) the price paid by the proposed transferee for the shares or, if the proposed transferee did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the trust (e.g., a gift, devise or other similar transaction), the market price (as defined in our charter) of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the trust and (2) the price received by the trustee (net of any commissions and other expenses of sale) from the sale or other disposition of the shares. Any net sale proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the proposed transferee will be paid concurrently to the charitable beneficiary. If, prior to our discovery that shares of our capital stock have been transferred to the trust, the shares are sold by the proposed transferee, then (1) the shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and (2) to the extent that the proposed transferee received an amount for the shares that exceeds the amount the proposed transferee was entitled to receive, the excess shall be paid to the trustee upon demand.

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        In addition, shares of our capital stock held in the trust will be deemed to have been offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of the price per share in the transaction that resulted in the transfer to the trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the market price at the time of the devise or gift) and the market price on the date we, or our designee, accept the offer. We will have the right to accept the offer until the trustee has sold the shares. Upon a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the proposed transferee.

        Every owner of 5% or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Internal Revenue Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding shares of capital stock, including shares of our common stock and Series A Preferred Stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, will be required to give written notice to us stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of each class and series of shares of our capital stock that the owner beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which the shares are held. Each owner shall provide to us such additional information as we may request to determine the effect, if any, of the beneficial ownership on our qualification as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limitations. In addition, each such owner and beneficial or constructive owners shall, upon demand, be required to provide to us such information as we may request, in good faith, to determine our qualification as a REIT and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.

        These ownership limitations could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our equity securities or might otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

        The transfer agent and registrar for our shares of common stock is American Stock Transfer and Trust Company.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

        The following summary description of our preferred stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to Maryland law, our charter and our bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See "Where You Can Find More Information."

General

        Our charter provides that our board of directors has the authority, without action by the stockholders, to designate and issue up to 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, in one or more classes or series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of each class or series of preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any class or series, which may be greater than the rights of the holders of the common stock. As of April 24, 2014, 920,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding on a fully diluted basis. Any issuance of shares of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock, and the likelihood that the holders of preferred stock will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control.

Terms

        When we issue preferred stock, it will be fully paid and non-assessable. The preferred stock will not have any preemptive rights.

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        Articles supplementary that will become part of our charter will reflect the specific terms of any new series of preferred stock offered. A prospectus supplement will describe these specific terms, including:

•

the title and stated value;



•

the number of shares, liquidation preference and offering price;



•

the dividend rate, dividend periods and payment dates;



•

the date on which dividends begin to accrue or accumulate;



•

any auction and remarketing procedures;



•

any retirement or sinking fund requirement;



•

the price and the terms and conditions of any redemption right;



•

any listing on any securities exchange;



•

the price and the terms and conditions of any conversion or exchange right;



•

any voting rights;



•

the relative ranking and preferences as to dividends, liquidation, dissolution or winding up;



•

any limitations on issuing any series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividends, liquidation, dissolution or winding up;



•

any limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer;



•

any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions; and



•

a discussion of certain material federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock.

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer; Change of Control Provisions

        As discussed above under "Description of Common Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer of our Capital Stock," our charter contains restrictions on ownership and transfers of our capital stock. In addition, the articles supplementary designating the terms of each series of preferred stock may also contain additional provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of the preferred stock. The prospectus supplement will specify any additional ownership limitation relating to a series of preferred stock.

        For a discussion of provisions in our charter that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control, see "Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of our Charter and Bylaws."

Transfer Agent

        The prospectus supplement will identify the transfer agent and registrar for the preferred stock.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

General

        The debt securities offered by this prospectus will be our direct unsecured general obligations. This prospectus describes certain general terms of the debt securities offered through this prospectus. In the following discussion, we refer to any of our direct unsecured general obligations as the "Debt Securities." When we offer to sell a particular series of Debt Securities, we will describe the specific terms of that series in a prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus. The Debt Securities will be issued under an open-ended Indenture (for Debt Securities) between us and a trustee to be selected by us at or about the time we offer our Debt Securities. The open-ended Indenture (for Debt Securities) is incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. In this prospectus we refer to the Indenture (for Debt Securities) as the Debt Securities Indenture. We refer to the trustee under any Debt Securities Indenture as the "Debt Securities Trustee."

        The prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus applicable to a particular series of Debt Securities may state that a particular series of Debt Securities will be our subordinated obligations. The form of Debt Securities Indenture referred to above includes optional provisions (designated by brackets ("[      ]")) that we would expect to appear in a separate indenture for subordinated debt securities in the event we issue subordinated debt securities. In the following discussion, we refer to any of our subordinated obligations as the "Subordinated Debt Securities." Unless the applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus provides otherwise, we will use a separate Debt Securities Indenture for any Subordinated Debt Securities that we may issue. Our Debt Securities Indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act, and you should refer to the Trust Indenture Act for the provisions that apply to the Debt Securities.

        We have summarized selected provisions of the Debt Securities Indenture below. Each Debt Securities Indenture will be independent of any other Debt Securities Indenture unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus. The summary that follows is not complete and the summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture. You should consult the applicable Debt Securities, Debt Securities Indenture, any supplemental indentures, officers' certificates and other related documents for more complete information on the Debt Securities. These documents appear as exhibits to, or are incorporated by reference into, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will appear as exhibits to other documents that we will file with the SEC, which will be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. In the summary below, we have included references to applicable section numbers of the Debt Securities Indenture so that you can easily locate these provisions.

Ranking

        Our Debt Securities that are not designated Subordinated Debt Securities will be effectively subordinated to all secured indebtedness that we have outstanding from time to time to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such secured indebtedness. Our Debt Securities that are designated Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinate to all outstanding secured indebtedness as well as Debt Securities that are not designated Subordinated Debt Securities. We incur indebtedness from time to time to finance many of our assets pursuant to repurchase agreements, and we may enter into certain other structured finance instruments. Our repurchase agreement indebtedness is deemed to be secured indebtedness. As a result, we have a significant amount of secured indebtedness at any given time in relation to our total assets. The Debt Securities Indenture does not limit the amount of secured indebtedness that we may issue or incur.

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        Our ability to meet our financial obligations with respect to any future Debt Securities, and cash needs generally, is dependent on our operating cash flow, our ability to access various sources of short- and long-term liquidity, including repurchase agreements, financing and the capital markets. Holders of our Debt Securities will effectively have a junior position to claims of our creditors, including trade creditors, debt holders, secured creditors, taxing authorities and guarantee holders.

Provisions of a Particular Series

        The Debt Securities may from time to time be issued in one or more series. You should consult the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus relating to any particular series of Debt Securities for the following information:

•

the title of the Debt Securities;



•

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of the series of which they are a part;



•

the date(s), or method for determining the date(s), on which the principal of the Debt Securities will be payable;



•

the rate, including the method of determination, if applicable, at which the Debt Securities will bear interest, if any, and:



•

the date from which the interest will accrue;



•

the dates on which we will pay interest;



•

to whom the interest is payable, if other than the registered holder;



•

our ability, if any, to defer interest payments and any related restrictions during any interest deferral period; and



•

the record date for any interest payable on any interest payment date;



•

the place where:



•

the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities will be payable;



•

you may register the transfer of the Debt Securities;



•

you may exchange the Debt Securities; and



•

you may serve notices and demands upon us regarding the Debt Securities;



•

the security registrar for the Debt Securities and whether the principal of the Debt Securities is payable without presentment or surrender of them;



•

the terms and conditions upon which we may elect to redeem any Debt Securities, including any replacement capital or similar covenants limiting our ability to redeem any Subordinated Debt Securities;



•

the denominations in which we may issue Debt Securities, if other than $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000;



•

the terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities must be redeemed or purchased due to our obligations pursuant to any sinking fund or other mandatory redemption or tender provisions, or at the holder's option, including any applicable exceptions to notice requirements;



•

the currency, if other than United States currency, in which payments on the Debt Securities will be payable;

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•

the terms according to which elections can be made by us or the holder regarding payments on the Debt Securities in currency other than the currency in which the Debt Securities are stated to be payable;



•

if any Debt Securities are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars or in a composite currency, the obligations or instruments that will be considered eligible obligations with respect to such Debt Securities and any additional provisions for the reimbursement of the Company's indebtedness with respect to such Debt Securities after the satisfaction or discharge thereof;



•

if payments are to be made on the Debt Securities in securities or other property, the type and amount of the securities and other property or the method by which the amount shall be determined;



•

the manner in which we will determine any amounts payable on the Debt Securities that are to be determined with reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of the applicable indenture;



•

if other than the entire principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the Debt Securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity;



•

any addition to the events of default applicable to any Debt Securities and any addition to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of the Debt Securities;



•

the terms applicable to any rights to convert Debt Securities into or exchange them for other of our securities or those of any other entity;



•

whether we are issuing Debt Securities as global securities, and if so:



•

the terms and conditions upon which the global securities may be exchanged for certificated Debt Securities;



•

the depositary for the global securities; and



•

the form of legend to be set forth on the global securities;



•

whether we are issuing the Debt Securities as bearer certificates;



•

any limitations on transfer or exchange of Debt Securities or the right to obtain registration of their transfer, and the terms and amount of any service charge required for registration of transfer or exchange;



•

any exceptions to the provisions governing payments due on legal holidays, or any variations in the definition of business day with respect to the Debt Securities;



•

any collateral security, assurance, guarantee or other credit enhancement applicable to the Debt Securities;



•

any other terms of the Debt Securities not in conflict with the provisions of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture; and



•

the material federal income tax consequences applicable to the Debt Securities.

        For more information, see Section 3.01 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        Debt Securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. You should consult the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus for a description of certain material federal income tax considerations that may apply to Debt Securities sold at an original issue discount or denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars.

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        Unless the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus states otherwise, the covenants contained in the applicable indenture will not afford holders of Debt Securities protection in the event we have a change in control or are involved in a highly-leveraged transaction.

Subordination

        The applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may provide that a series of Debt Securities will be Subordinated Debt Securities, subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of our Senior Indebtedness, as defined below. If so, we will issue these securities under a separate Debt Securities Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities. For more information, see Article XV of the form of Debt Securities Indenture.

        Unless the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus states otherwise, in the event:

•

there occur certain acts of bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of our company;



•

any Senior Indebtedness is not paid when due;



•

any applicable grace period with respect to other defaults with respect to any Senior Indebtedness has ended, the default has not been cured or waived and the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of the default; or



•

the maturity of the Subordinated Debt Securities of any series has been accelerated because of a default and Senior Indebtedness is then outstanding;

then no payment of principal of, including redemption and sinking fund payments, or any premium or interest on, the Subordinated Debt Securities may be made until all amounts due to holders of Senior Indebtedness have been paid in full.

        Upon any distribution of our assets to creditors upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all principal of, and any premium and interest due or to become due on, all outstanding Senior Indebtedness must be paid in full before the holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities are entitled to payment. For more information, see Section 15.02 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture. The rights of the holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Subordinated Debt Securities are paid in full. For more information, see Section 15.04 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        Unless the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus states otherwise, the term "Senior Indebtedness" means all:

•

obligations (other than non-recourse obligations and the indebtedness issued under the applicable Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture) of, or guaranteed or assumed by, us:



•

for borrowed money (including both senior and subordinated indebtedness for borrowed money, but excluding the Subordinated Debt Securities); or



•

for the payment of money relating to any lease that is capitalized on our consolidated balance sheet in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;



•

indebtedness evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments;



•

obligations with respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued for our account;

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•

obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course);



•

obligations for claims, as defined in section 101(5) of the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, in respect of derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts and similar arrangements; and



•

obligations of another person for which we have guaranteed or assumed direct or indirect responsibility or liability.

        In the case of any such indebtedness or obligations, Senior Indebtedness includes amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings, whether existing as of the date of the Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture or subsequently incurred by us.

        The Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness we may issue.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

        Unless the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus states otherwise, we will issue Debt Securities only in fully registered form without coupons and in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of that amount. For more information, see Sections 2.01 and 3.02 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        Holders may present Debt Securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed instrument of transfer, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent we may designate. Exchanges and transfers are subject to the terms of the applicable indenture and applicable limitations for global securities. We may designate ourselves the security registrar.

        No charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Debt Securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that the holder must pay in connection with the transaction. Any transfer or exchange will become effective upon the security registrar or transfer agent, as the case may be, being satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. For more information, see Section 3.05 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        The applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will state the name of any transfer agent, in addition to the security registrar initially designated by us, for any Debt Securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or withdraw the designation of any transfer agent or make a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts. We must, however, maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the Debt Securities of each series. For more information, see Section 6.02 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        We will not be required to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any:

•

Debt Securities or any tranche of any Debt Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any Debt Securities called for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing; or



•

Debt Securities selected for redemption except the unredeemed portion of any Debt Securities being partially redeemed.

        For more information, see Section 3.05 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

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Payment and Paying Agents

        Unless the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus states otherwise, we will pay interest on a Debt Security on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the Debt Security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest payment. For more information, see Section 3.07 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        Unless the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus provides otherwise, we will pay principal and any premium and interest on Debt Securities at the office of the paying agent whom we will designate for this purpose. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus states otherwise, the corporate trust office of the Debt Securities Trustee in New York City will be designated as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to Debt Securities of each series. Any other paying agents initially designated by us for the Debt Securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. We may at any time add or delete paying agents or change the office through which any paying agent acts. We must, however, maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the Debt Securities of a particular series. For more information, see Section 6.02 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        All money we pay to a paying agent for the payment of the principal and any premium or interest on any Debt Security that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after payment is due will be repaid to us. After that date, the holder of that Debt Security shall be deemed an unsecured general creditor and may look only to us for these payments. For more information, see Section 6.03 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

Redemption

        You should consult the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus for any terms regarding optional or mandatory redemption of Debt Securities. Except for any provisions in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus regarding Debt Securities redeemable at the holder's option, Debt Securities may be redeemed only upon notice by mail not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date. Further, if less than all of the Debt Securities of a series, or any tranche of a series, are to be redeemed, the Debt Securities to be redeemed will be selected by the Debt Securities Trustee by the method provided for the particular series. In the absence of a selection provision, the Debt Securities Trustee will select a fair and appropriate method of selection. For more information, see Sections 4.02, 4.03 and 4.04 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        A notice of redemption we provide may state:

•

that redemption is conditioned upon receipt by the paying agent on or before the redemption date of money sufficient to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Debt Securities; and



•

that if the money has not been received, the notice will be ineffective and we will not be required to redeem the Debt Securities.

        For more information, see Section 4.04 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

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Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

        We may not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation, nor may we transfer or lease substantially all of our assets and property to any other person, unless:

•

the corporation formed by the consolidation or into which we are merged, or the person that acquires by conveyance or transfer, or that leases, substantially all of our property and assets:



•

is organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic jurisdiction; and



•

expressly assumes by supplemental indenture our obligations on the Debt Securities and under the applicable indentures;



•

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default, and no event that (after notice or lapse of time or both) would become an event of default, has occurred and is continuing; and



•

we have delivered to the Debt Securities Trustee an officer's certificate and opinion of counsel as provided in the applicable indentures.

        For more information, see Section 11.01 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

Events of Default

        Unless the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus states otherwise, "event of default" under the applicable indenture with respect to Debt Securities of any series means any of the following:

•

failure to pay any interest due on any Debt Security of that series within 30 days after it becomes due;



•

failure to pay principal or premium, if any, when due on any Debt Security of that series;



•

failure to make any required sinking fund payment when due on any Debt Securities of that series;



•

breach of or failure to perform any other covenant or warranty in the applicable indenture with respect to Debt Securities of that series for 60 days (subject to extension under certain circumstances for another 120 days) after we receive notice from the Debt Securities Trustee, or we and the Debt Securities Trustee receive notice from the holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the Debt Securities of that series outstanding under the applicable indenture according to the provisions of the applicable indenture;



•

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and



•

any other event of default set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

        For more information, see Section 8.01 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        An event of default with respect to a particular series of Debt Securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to the Debt Securities of any other series issued under the applicable indenture.

        If an event of default with respect to a particular series of Debt Securities occurs and is continuing, either the Debt Securities Trustee or the holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all of the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If the Debt Securities of that series are discount Debt Securities or similar Debt Securities, only the portion of the principal amount as

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specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may be immediately due and payable. If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to all series of Debt Securities issued under a Debt Securities Indenture, including all events of default relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the Debt Securities Trustee or the holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of all series issued under that Debt Securities Indenture, considered together, may declare an acceleration of the principal amount of all series of Debt Securities issued under that Debt Securities Indenture. There is no automatic acceleration, even in the event of our bankruptcy or insolvency.

        The applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may provide, with respect to a series of Debt Securities to which a credit enhancement is applicable, that the provider of the credit enhancement may, if a default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the series, have all or any part of the rights with respect to remedies that would otherwise have been exercisable by the holder of that series.

        At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Debt Securities of a particular series, and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the event of default giving rise to the declaration of acceleration will, without further action, be deemed to have been waived, and the declaration and its consequences will be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if:

•

we have paid or deposited with the Debt Securities Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:



•

all overdue interest on all Debt Securities of the particular series;



•

the principal of and any premium on any Debt Securities of that series that have become due otherwise than by the declaration of acceleration and any interest at the rate prescribed in the Debt Securities;



•

interest upon overdue interest at the rate prescribed in the Debt Securities, to the extent payment is lawful; and



•

all amounts due to the Debt Securities Trustee under the applicable indenture; and



•

any other event of default with respect to the Debt Securities of the particular series, other than the failure to pay the principal of the Debt Securities of that series that has become due solely by the declaration of acceleration, has been cured or waived as provided in the applicable indenture.

        For more information, see Section 8.02 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        The applicable Debt Securities Indenture includes provisions as to the duties of the Debt Securities Trustee in case an event of default occurs and is continuing. Consistent with these provisions, the Debt Securities Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request or direction of any of the holders unless those holders have offered to the Debt Securities Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. For more information, see Section 9.03 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture. Subject to these provisions for indemnification, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debt Securities Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Debt Securities Trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities of that series. For more information, see Section 8.12 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

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        No holder of Debt Securities may institute any proceeding regarding the applicable indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy under the applicable indenture unless:

•

the holder has previously given to the Debt Securities Trustee written notice of a continuing event of default of that particular series;



•

the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of all series with respect to which an event of default has occurred and is continuing have made a written request to the Debt Securities Trustee, and have offered reasonable indemnity to the Debt Securities Trustee, to institute the proceeding as trustee; and



•

the Debt Securities Trustee has failed to institute the proceeding, and has not received from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of that series a direction inconsistent with the request, within 60 days after notice, request and offer of reasonable indemnity.

        For more information, see Section 8.07 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        The preceding limitations do not apply, however, to a suit instituted by a holder of a Debt Security for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on the Debt Securities on or after the applicable due date stated in the Debt Securities. For more information, see Section 8.08 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        We must furnish annually to the Debt Securities Trustee a statement by an appropriate officer as to that officer's knowledge of our compliance with all conditions and covenants under each of the indentures for Debt Securities. Our compliance is to be determined without regard to any grace period or notice requirement under the respective indenture. For more information, see Sections 6.05 and 6.06 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

Modification and Waiver

        We and the Debt Securities Trustee, without the consent of the holders of the Debt Securities, may enter into one or more supplemental indentures for any of the following purposes:

•

to evidence the assumption by any permitted successor of our covenants in the applicable indenture and the Debt Securities;



•

to add one or more covenants or other provisions for the benefit of the holders of outstanding Debt Securities or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us by the applicable indenture;



•

to add any additional events of default;



•

to change or eliminate any provision of the applicable indenture or add any new provision to it, but if this action would adversely affect the interests of the holders of any particular series of Debt Securities in any material respect, the action will not become effective with respect to that series while any Debt Securities of that series remain outstanding under the applicable indenture;



•

to provide collateral security for the Debt Securities;



•

to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities according to the provisions of the applicable indenture;



•

to provide for the authentication and delivery of bearer securities (and coupons representing any interest thereon) and for procedures for the registration, exchange and replacement of such

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bearer securities and for the giving of notice to, and the solicitation of the vote or consent of, the holders of such bearer securities, and for all related incidental matters;

•

to evidence the acceptance of appointment of a successor Debt Securities Trustee under the applicable indenture with respect to one or more series of the Debt Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of the applicable indenture as necessary to provide for trust administration under the applicable indenture by more than one trustee;



•

to provide for the procedures required to permit the use of a non-certificated system of registration for any series of Debt Securities;



•

to change any place where:



•

the principal of and any premium and interest on any Debt Securities are payable;



•

any Debt Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange; or



•

notices and demands to or upon us regarding Debt Securities and the applicable indentures may be served; or



•

to cure any ambiguity or inconsistency, but only by means of changes or additions that will not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Debt Securities of any series in any material respect.

        For more information, see Section 12.01 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of any series may waive:

•

compliance by us with certain provisions of the applicable indenture (see Section 6.06 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture); and



•

any past default under the applicable indenture, except a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest and certain covenants and provisions of the applicable indenture that cannot be modified or amended without consent of the holder of each outstanding Debt Security of the series affected (see Section 8.13 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture).

        The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 may be amended after the date of the applicable indenture to require changes to the indenture. In this event, the indenture will be deemed to have been amended so as to effect the changes, and we and the Debt Securities Trustee may, without the consent of any holders, enter into one or more supplemental indentures to evidence or effect the amendment. For more information, see Section 12.01 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        Except as provided in this section, the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of all series issued pursuant to a Debt Securities Indenture, considered as one class, is required to change in any manner the applicable indenture pursuant to one or more supplemental indentures. If there are Debt Securities of more than one series outstanding under a Debt Securities Indenture and less than all of such series are directly affected by a proposed supplemental indenture, however, only the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of all series directly affected, considered as one class, will be required. Furthermore, if the Debt Securities of any series have been issued in more than one tranche and if the proposed supplemental indenture directly affects the rights of the holders of one or more, but not all, tranches, only the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the

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outstanding Debt Securities of all tranches directly affected, considered as one class, will be required. In addition, an amendment or modification:

•

may not, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debt Security affected:



•

change the maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Debt Securities;



•

reduce the principal amount or the rate of interest, or the amount of any installment of interest, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest;



•

reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of the Debt Securities;



•

reduce the amount of the principal of any Debt Security originally issued at a discount from the stated principal amount that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of maturity;



•

change the currency or other property in which a Debt Security or premium or interest on a Debt Security is payable; or



•

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity, or in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date, of any Debt Securities;



•

may not reduce the percentage of principal amount requirement for consent of the holders for any supplemental indenture, or for any waiver of compliance with any provision of or any default under the applicable indenture, or reduce the requirements for quorum or voting, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debt Security of each series or tranche affected; and



•

may not modify provisions of the applicable indenture relating to supplemental indentures, waivers of certain covenants and waivers of past defaults with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, or any tranche of a series, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debt Security affected.

        A supplemental indenture will be deemed not to affect the rights under the applicable indenture of the holders of any series or tranche of the Debt Securities if the supplemental indenture:

•

changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the applicable indenture expressly included solely for the benefit of one or more other particular series of Debt Securities or tranches thereof; or



•

modifies the rights of the holders of Debt Securities of any other series or tranches with respect to any covenant or other provision.

        For more information, see Section 12.02 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

        If we solicit from holders of the Debt Securities any type of action, we may at our option by board resolution fix in advance a record date for the determination of the holders entitled to vote on the action. We shall have no obligation, however, to do so. If we fix a record date, the action may be taken before or after the record date, but only the holders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be holders for the purposes of determining whether holders of the requisite proportion of the outstanding Debt Securities have authorized the action. For that purpose, the outstanding Debt Securities shall be computed as of the record date. Any holder action shall bind every future holder of the same security and the holder of every security issued upon the registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of the security in respect of anything done or permitted by the Debt Securities Trustee or us in reliance on that action, whether or not notation of the action is made upon the security. For more information, see Section 1.04 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

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Defeasance

        Unless the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus provides otherwise, any Debt Security, or portion of the principal amount of a Debt Security, will be deemed to have been paid for purposes of the applicable indenture, and, at our election, our entire indebtedness in respect of the Debt Security, or portion thereof, will be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged, if we have irrevocably deposited with the Debt Securities Trustee or any paying agent other than us, in trust money, certain eligible obligations, as defined in the applicable indenture, or a combination of the two, sufficient to pay principal of and any premium and interest due and to become due on the Debt Security or portion thereof, and other required documentation. Included among the documentation we are required to deliver to be deemed to have our indebtedness deemed satisfied and discharged with respect to a Debt Security pursuant to the preceding sentence is an opinion of counsel to the effect that, as a result of a change in law occurring after the date of the applicable Debt Security Indenture, the holders of such Debt Security, or portions thereof, will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the satisfaction and discharge of our indebtedness in respect thereof and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, at the same times and in the same manner as if such satisfaction and discharge had not been effected. For more information, see Section 7.01 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture. For this purpose, unless the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus provides otherwise, eligible obligations include direct obligations of, or obligations unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States, entitled to the benefit of full faith and credit of the United States, and certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments that evidence a direct ownership interest in those obligations or in any specific interest or principal payments due in respect of those obligations.

Resignation, Removal of Debt Securities Trustee; Appointment of Successor

        The Debt Securities Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice to us or may be removed at any time by an action of the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Debt Securities delivered to the Debt Securities Trustee and us. No resignation or removal of the Debt Securities Trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee will become effective until a successor trustee accepts appointment in accordance with the requirements of the applicable indenture. So long as no event of default or event that would become an event of default (after notice or lapse of time or both) has occurred and is continuing, and except with respect to a Debt Securities Trustee appointed by an action of the holders, if we have delivered to the Debt Securities Trustee a resolution of our board of directors appointing a successor trustee and the successor trustee has accepted the appointment in accordance with the terms of the applicable indenture, the Debt Securities Trustee will be deemed to have resigned and the successor trustee will be deemed to have been appointed as trustee in accordance with the applicable indenture. For more information, see Section 9.10 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

Notices

        We will give notices to holders of Debt Securities by mail to their addresses as they appear in the Debt Security Register. For more information, see Section 1.06 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

Title

        The Debt Securities Trustee and its agents, and we and our agents, may treat the person in whose name a Debt Security is registered as the absolute owner of that Debt Security, whether or not that Debt Security may be overdue, for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes. For more information, see Section 3.08 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

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Governing Law

        The Debt Securities Indentures and the Debt Securities, including any Subordinated Debt Securities Indentures and Subordinated Debt Securities, will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York. For more information, see Section 1.12 of the applicable Debt Securities Indenture.

DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS

        The following is a general description of the terms of the warrants we may issue from time to time. Particular terms of any warrants we offer will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such warrants.

        We may issue warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. Such warrants may be issued independently or together with shares of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and may be attached or separate from such securities. We will issue each series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

        A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants we may issue, including the following:

•

the title of such warrants;



•

the aggregate number of such warrants;



•

the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;



•

the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the price of such warrants may be payable;



•

if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;



•

in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;



•

in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;



•

the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right will expire;



•

whether such warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form;



•

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;



•

if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;



•

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;



•

the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

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•

if applicable, a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations; and



•

any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.

        Additionally, in order to enable us to preserve our qualification as a REIT, we may take certain actions to restrict ownership and transfer of our outstanding securities, including any warrants. The prospectus supplement related to the offering of any warrants will specify any additional ownership limitation relating to the warrants being offered thereby.

        We and the warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement for a series of warrants without the consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.

        Prior to exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including, in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive principal, premium, if any, or interest payments, on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture or, in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise any voting rights.

CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE MARYLAND GENERAL CORPORATION LAW AND
OUR CHARTER AND BYLAWS

        The following summary description of certain provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or MGCL, and our charter and bylaws does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the MGCL and the actual provisions of our charter and bylaws, copies of which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See "Where You Can Find More Information."

Our Board of Directors

        Our bylaws and charter provide that the number of directors we have may be established by our board of directors but may not be less than the minimum number required by the MGCL, nor more than 15. Our board is currently composed of five directors—two of whom are affiliated and three of whom are independent. Our charter and bylaws currently provide that any vacancy may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors. Any individual elected to fill such vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies.

        We have agreed with XL Investments that, for so long as XL Investments and any other of the XL group of companies collectively beneficially own at least 9.8% of our issued and outstanding common stock (on a fully diluted basis), XL Investments will have the right to appoint an observer to attend all board meetings but such observer will have no right to vote at any board meeting.

        Pursuant to our bylaws, each of our directors is elected by a plurality of all votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present. Each outstanding share, regardless of class, is entitled to one vote. Directors are elected to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies.

Removal of Directors

        Our charter provides that a director may be removed, with or without cause, and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast at least two thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. This provision, when coupled with the power of our board

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of directors to fill vacancies on the board of directors, precludes stockholders from (1) removing incumbent directors except upon a substantial affirmative vote and (2) filling the vacancies created by such removal with their own nominees.

Business Combinations

        Under the MGCL, certain "business combinations" (including a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in certain circumstances, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities) between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder (defined generally as any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation's outstanding voting stock or an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period immediately prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding stock of the corporation) or an affiliate of such an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Thereafter, any such business combination must be recommended by the board of directors of such corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least (a) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding voting shares of stock of the corporation and (b) two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom (or with whose affiliate) the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder, unless, among other conditions, the corporation's common stockholders receive a minimum price (as defined in the MGCL) for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares. Our board of directors may provide that the board's approval is subject to compliance with any terms and conditions determined by the board of directors.

        These provisions of the MGCL do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by a board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Pursuant to the statute, our board of directors has by resolution exempted business combinations between us and any member of the XL group of companies, the parent of which is XL Group plc. Consequently, the five-year prohibition and the supermajority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations with the XL group of companies. As a result, the members of the XL group of companies may be able to enter into business combinations with us that may not be in the best interest of our stockholders without compliance by us with the supermajority vote requirements and other provisions of the statute. However, our board of directors may repeal or modify this exemption at any time in the future, in which case the applicable provisions of this statute will become applicable to business combinations between us and the XL group of companies. In addition, pursuant to the statute, our board of directors has by resolution irrevocably exempted the issuance of shares of common stock to any member of the XL group of companies in connection with the exercise of the warrants issued to XL Investments on September 29, 2012 by any member of the XL group of companies. The business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.

Control Share Acquisitions

        The MGCL provides that "control shares" of a Maryland corporation acquired in a "control share acquisition" have no voting rights except to the extent approved at a special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding shares of stock in a corporation in respect of which any of the following persons is entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of the voting power of such shares in the election of directors: (1) a person who makes or proposes to make a control share acquisition, (2) an officer of the corporation or (3) an employee of the corporation who is also a director of the corporation. "Control shares" are voting shares of stock

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which, if aggregated with all other such shares of stock previously acquired by the acquirer, or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power: (a) one-tenth or more but less than one-third; (b) one-third or more but less than a majority; or (c) a majority or more of all voting power. Control shares do not include shares that the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A "control share acquisition" means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

        A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition, upon satisfaction of certain conditions (including an undertaking to pay expenses and making an "acquiring person statement" as described in the MGCL), may compel our board of directors to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.

        If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an "acquiring person statement" as required by the statute, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the corporation may redeem any or all of the control shares (except those for which voting rights have previously been approved) for fair value determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of such shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of such appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition.

        The control share acquisition statute does not apply to (1) shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (2) acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.

        Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions by any person of shares of our stock. There is no assurance that such provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.

Subtitle 8

        Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect to be subject, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to any or all of five provisions:

•

a classified board;



•

a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director;



•

a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the directors;



•

a requirement that a vacancy on the board of directors be filled only by the remaining directors in office and for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred; and



•

a majority requirement for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders.

        Our charter provides that, pursuant to Subtitle 8, vacancies on the board of directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining

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directors do not constitute a quorum, and any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred. Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we already (1) require the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter for the removal of any director from the board of directors, which removal will be allowed with or without cause, (2) vest in the board of directors the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships and (3) require, unless called by the chairman of the board of directors, president, chief executive officer, or the board of directors, the written request of stockholders of not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such a meeting to call a special meeting.

Meetings of Stockholders

        Pursuant to our bylaws, a meeting of our stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any business will be held annually on a date and at the time set by our board of directors. In addition, the chairman of the board of directors, president, chief executive officer, or board of directors may call a special meeting of our stockholders. Subject to the provisions of our bylaws, a special meeting of our stockholders will also be called by the secretary upon the written request of the stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting.

Amendment to Our Charter and Bylaws

        Except for amendments related to removal of directors, the restrictions on transfer and ownership of shares of our stock and the requirement of a two-thirds vote for amendments to these provisions (each of which require the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast at least two-thirds of all votes entitled to be cast on the matter and the approval of our board of directors), our charter may be amended only with the approval of the board of directors and the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

        Our board of directors has the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws and to make new bylaws.

Dissolution

        Our dissolution must be approved by a majority of the entire board of directors and the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business

        Our bylaws provide that, with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of individuals for election to the board of directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by stockholders may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by or at the direction of our board of directors or (3) by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving his notice and at the time of the meeting and who is entitled to vote at the meeting on the election of directors or on the proposal of other business, as the case may be, and has complied with the advance notice provisions set forth in our bylaws.

        With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to our board of directors may be made only (1) by or at the direction of our board of directors or (2) provided that the board of directors has determined that directors will be elected at such meeting, by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving his notice and at the time of the meeting and

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who is entitled to vote at the meeting and has complied with the advance notice provisions set forth in our bylaws.

Anti-takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws

        Our charter and bylaws and Maryland law contain provisions that may delay, defer or prevent a change in control or other transaction that might involve a premium price for shares of our common stock or otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders, including business combination provisions, supermajority vote requirements and advance notice requirements for director nominations and stockholder proposals. Likewise, if the provision in the bylaws opting out of the control share acquisition provisions of the MGCL were rescinded or if we were to opt into the classified board or other provisions of Subtitle 8, these provisions of the MGCL could have similar anti-takeover effects.

Indemnification and Limitation of Directors' and Officers' Liability

        Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision eliminating the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. Our charter contains such a provision that eliminates such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

        The MGCL requires us to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The MGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:

•

the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;



•

the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or



•

in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

        However, under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify a director or officer in a suit by or in the right of the corporation in which the director or officer was adjudged liable to the corporation or in a proceeding in which the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received. However, indemnification for an adverse judgment in a suit by us or in our right, or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, is limited to expenses.

        In addition, the MGCL permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation's receipt of:

•

a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and

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•

a written undertaking by the director or officer or on the director's or officer's behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the director or officer did not meet the standard of conduct.

        Our charter authorizes us to obligate ourselves and our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to:

•

any individual who is a present or former director or officer of ours and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or



•

any individual who, while a director or officer of ours and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.

        Our charter and bylaws also permit us to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served as a predecessor of ours in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of ours or a predecessor of ours.

        Insofar as the foregoing provisions permit indemnification of directors, officers or persons controlling us for liability arising under the Securities Act, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

REIT Qualification

        Our charter provides that our board of directors may revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election, without approval of our stockholders, if it determines that it is no longer in our best interests to continue to maintain our REIT qualification.

U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

        The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in stock of Five Oaks Investment Corp. For purposes of this section under the heading "U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations," references to "Five Oaks Investment Corp.," "we," "our" and "us" mean only Five Oaks Investment Corp. and not its subsidiaries or other lower-tier entities, except as otherwise indicated. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code, the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department, rulings and other administrative pronouncements issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect, and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below. We have not sought and will not seek an advance ruling from the IRS regarding any matter discussed in this prospectus. The summary is also based upon the assumption that we and our subsidiaries and affiliated entities will operate in accordance with our and their applicable organizational documents. This summary is for general information only and is not tax advice. It does not purport to discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to a particular investor in light of its investment or tax circumstances or to investors subject to special tax rules, such as:

•

financial institutions;



•

insurance companies and REITs, and each of their shareholders;

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•

controlled foreign corporations and passive foreign investment companies, and each of their shareholders;



•

broker-dealers;



•

regulated investment companies;



•

partnerships and trusts and their partners and beneficiaries;



•

persons who hold our stock on behalf of other persons as nominees;



•

persons who receive our stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation;



•

persons holding our stock as part of a "straddle," "hedge," "conversion transaction," "synthetic security" or other integrated investment;



•

U.S. expatriates,

and, except to the extent discussed below:

•

tax-exempt organizations; and



•

non-U.S. investors.

        This summary assumes that investors will hold their stock as a capital asset, which generally means as property held for investment.

        The U.S. federal income tax treatment of beneficial owners of our stock depends in some instances on determinations of fact and interpretations of complex provisions of U.S. federal income tax law for which no clear precedent or authority may be available. In addition, the tax consequences to any particular beneficial owner of holding our stock will depend on the beneficial owner's particular tax circumstances. You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, and non-U.S. income and other tax consequences to you in light of your particular investment or tax circumstances of acquiring, holding, exchanging, or otherwise disposing of our stock.

Taxation of Five Oaks Investment Corp.

        We have elected to be taxed as a REIT commencing with our short taxable year ended December 31, 2012. We believe that we have been organized and that we have operated, and we intend to continue to operate, in such a manner so that we qualified, and will continue to qualify, for taxation as a REIT under the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

        The law firm of Kaye Scholer LLP has acted as our tax counsel in connection with this offering. In connection with this prospectus, we are receiving an opinion of Kaye Scholer LLP to the effect that, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2012, we have been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, and our current and proposed method of operation will enable us to continue to maintain our qualification and taxation as a REIT for subsequent years. It must be emphasized that the opinion of Kaye Scholer LLP is based on various assumptions relating to our organization and operation, and will be conditioned upon fact-based representations and covenants made by us regarding our organization, assets, and income, and the conduct of our business operations. While we intend to continue to operate so that we will continue to qualify as a REIT, given the highly complex nature of the rules governing REITs, the ongoing importance of factual determinations, and the possibility of future changes in our circumstances, no assurance can be given by Kaye Scholer LLP or by us that we will qualify as a REIT for any particular year. The opinion is expressed as of the date issued. Kaye Scholer LLP has no obligation to advise us or our stockholders of any subsequent change in the matters stated, represented or assumed, or of any subsequent change in the applicable law. You should be aware that opinions of

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counsel are not binding on the IRS, and no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge the conclusions set forth in such opinion.

        Qualification and taxation as a REIT depends on our ability to meet on a continuing basis, through actual operating results, distribution levels, and diversity of stock and asset ownership, various qualification requirements imposed upon REITs by the Internal Revenue Code, the compliance with which will not be reviewed by Kaye Scholer LLP. Our ability to maintain our REIT qualification also requires that we satisfy certain asset tests, some of which depend upon the fair market values of assets that we own directly or indirectly. Such values may not be susceptible to a precise determination. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations for any taxable year will satisfy such requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT.

Taxation of REITs in General

        As indicated above, our qualification and taxation as a REIT depends upon our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, various qualification requirements imposed upon REITs by the Internal Revenue Code. The material qualification requirements are summarized below under "—Requirements for qualification—General." While we believe we have operated, and intend to continue to operate, so that we qualified, and will continue to qualify, as a REIT, no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge our qualification, or that we will be able to operate in accordance with the REIT requirements in the future. See "—Failure to qualify."

        Provided that we maintain our qualification as a REIT, generally we will be entitled to a deduction for dividends that we pay and therefore will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income that is currently distributed to our stockholders. This treatment substantially eliminates the "double taxation" at the corporate and stockholder levels that generally results from investment in a corporation. In general, the income that we generate is taxed only at the stockholder level upon a distribution of dividends to our stockholders.

        Most U.S. stockholders that are individuals, trusts or estates are taxed on corporate dividends at a current maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20% (the same rate applicable to long-term capital gains). With limited exceptions, however, dividends from us or from other entities that are taxed as REITs are generally not eligible for this rate and will continue to be taxed at rates applicable to ordinary income. Under current law, the highest marginal non-corporate U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income is 39.6%. See "—Taxation of stockholders—Taxation of taxable U.S. stockholders—Distributions."

        Any net operating losses, foreign tax credits and other tax attributes generally do not pass through to our stockholders, subject to special rules for certain items such as the capital gains that we recognize. See "—Taxation of stockholders—Taxation of taxable U.S. stockholders—Distributions."

        Even if we maintain our qualification as a REIT, we will nonetheless be subject to U.S. federal tax in the following circumstances:

•

We will be taxed at regular corporate rates on any undistributed taxable income, including undistributed net capital gains.



•

We may be subject to the "alternative minimum tax" on our items of tax preference, including any deductions of net operating losses.



•

If we have net income from prohibited transactions, which are, in general, sales or other dispositions of inventory or property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, other than foreclosure property, such income will be subject to a 100% tax. See "—Prohibited transactions," and "—Foreclosure property," below.

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•

If we elect to treat property that we acquire in connection with a foreclosure of a mortgage loan or certain leasehold terminations as "foreclosure property," we may thereby avoid the 100% tax on gain from a resale of that property (if the sale would otherwise constitute a prohibited transaction), but our income from the sale or operation of the property may be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the highest rate applicable to corporations (currently 35%).



•

If we fail to satisfy the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, as discussed below, but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because we satisfy other requirements, we will be subject to a 100% tax on an amount based on the magnitude of the failure, as adjusted to reflect the profit margin associated with our gross income.



•

If we violate the asset tests (other than certain de minimis violations) or other requirements applicable to REITs, as described below, and yet maintain our qualification as a REIT because there is reasonable cause for the failure and other applicable requirements are met, we may be subject to a penalty tax. In that case, the amount of the penalty tax will be at least $50,000 per failure, and, in the case of certain asset test failures, will be determined as the amount of net income generated by the assets in question multiplied by the highest rate applicable to corporations (currently 35%) if that amount exceeds $50,000 per failure.



•

If we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (1) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (2) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (3) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we will be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of (a) the amounts that we actually distributed (taking into account excess distributions from prior years) and (b) the amounts we retained and upon which we paid income tax at the corporate level.



•

We may be required to pay monetary penalties to the IRS in certain circumstances, including if we fail to meet record-keeping requirements intended to monitor our compliance with rules relating to the composition of a REIT's stockholders, as described below in "—Requirements for qualification—General."



•

A 100% tax may be imposed on transactions between us and a taxable REIT subsidiary as defined under Section 856(l) of the Internal Revenue Code, or TRS, that do not reflect arm's-length terms. In addition, the earnings of TRSs are subject to U.S. federal income tax.



•

If we acquire appreciated assets from a corporation that is not a REIT (i.e., a corporation taxable under subchapter C of the Internal Revenue Code) in a transaction in which the adjusted tax basis of the assets in our hands is determined by reference to the adjusted tax basis of the assets in the hands of the subchapter C corporation, we may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such appreciation at the highest rate then applicable to corporations if we subsequently recognize gain on a disposition of any such assets during the ten-year period following their acquisition from the subchapter C corporation.



•

We generally will be subject to tax on the portion of any excess inclusion income derived from an investment in residual interests in a real-estate mortgage investment conduit as defined under Section 860D of the Internal Revenue Code, or REMIC, to the extent our stock is held by specified tax-exempt organizations not subject to tax on unrelated business taxable income. Similar rules will apply if we own an equity interest in a taxable mortgage pool. To the extent that we own a REMIC residual interest or an equity interest in a taxable mortgage pool through a TRS, we will not be subject to this tax.

        In addition, we may be subject to a variety of taxes, including state, local, and non-U.S. income, property and other taxes on our assets and operations. We could also be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.

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Requirements for qualification—General

        The Internal Revenue Code defines a REIT as a corporation, trust or association:

1.

that is managed by one or more trustees or directors;



2.

the beneficial ownership of which is evidenced by transferable shares, or by transferable certificates of beneficial interest;



3.

that would be taxable as a U.S. corporation but for its election to be subject to tax as a REIT;



4.

that is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to specific provisions of the Internal Revenue Code;



5.

the beneficial ownership of which is held by 100 or more persons;



6.

in which, during the last half of each taxable year, not more than 50% in value of the outstanding stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer "individuals" (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code to include specified tax-exempt entities);



7.

that makes an election to be a REIT for the current taxable year or has made such an election for a previous taxable year that has not been terminated or revoked; and



8.

that meets other tests described below, including with respect to the nature of its income and assets.

        The Internal Revenue Code provides that conditions (1) through (4) must be met during the entire taxable year, and that condition (5) must be met during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Conditions (5) and (6) need not be met during a corporation's initial tax year as a REIT (which, in our case, was 2012). We believe that we have previously issued stock with sufficient diversity of ownership to satisfy the requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above. Our charter provides restrictions regarding the ownership and transfers of our stock, which are intended to assist us in satisfying the stock ownership requirements described in conditions (5) and (6) above.

        To monitor compliance with the stock ownership requirements, we generally are required to maintain records regarding the actual ownership of our stocks. To do so, we must demand written statements each year from the record holders of significant percentages of our stock pursuant to which the record holders must disclose the actual owners of the stock (i.e., the persons required to include our dividends in their gross income). We must maintain a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with this demand as part of our records. We could be subject to monetary penalties if we fail to comply with these record-keeping requirements. If we satisfy these requirements and after exercising reasonable diligence would not have known that condition (6) is not satisfied, we will be deemed to have satisfied such condition. If you fail or refuse to comply with the demands, you will be required by U.S. Treasury Department regulations to submit a statement with your tax return disclosing your actual ownership of our stock and other information.

        In addition, a corporation generally may not elect to become a REIT unless its taxable year is the calendar year. We have adopted December 31 as our year-end, and thereby will satisfy this requirement.

Effect of subsidiary entities

        Ownership of partnership interests.    If we are a partner in an entity that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, U.S. Treasury Department regulations provide that we are deemed to own our proportionate share of the partnership's assets, and to earn our proportionate share of the partnership's income, for purposes of the asset and gross income tests applicable to REITs.

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Our proportionate share of a partnership's assets and income is based on our capital interest in the partnership (except that for purposes of the 10% value test, described below, our proportionate share of the partnership's assets is based on our proportionate interest in the equity and certain debt securities issued by the partnership, as described in the Internal Revenue Code). In addition, the assets and gross income of the partnership are deemed to retain the same character in our hands. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets and items of income of any subsidiary partnership will be treated as our assets and items of income for purposes of applying the REIT requirements. Consequently, to the extent that we directly or indirectly hold a preferred or other equity interest in a partnership, the partnership's assets and operations may affect our ability to maintain our REIT qualification, even though we may have no control or only limited influence over the partnership.

        Disregarded subsidiaries.    If we own a corporate subsidiary that is a "qualified REIT subsidiary," that subsidiary is disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and all of the subsidiary's assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit are treated as our assets, liabilities and items of income, deduction and credit, including for purposes of the gross income and asset tests applicable to REITs. A qualified REIT subsidiary is any corporation, other than a TRS (as described below), that is directly or indirectly wholly owned by a REIT. Other entities that are wholly owned by us, including single member limited liability companies that have not elected to be taxed as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, are also disregarded as separate entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests. Disregarded subsidiaries, along with any partnerships in which we hold an equity interest, are sometimes referred to herein as "pass-through subsidiaries."

        In the event that a disregarded subsidiary of ours ceases to be wholly-owned—for example, if any equity interest in the subsidiary is acquired by a person other than us or another disregarded subsidiary of ours—the subsidiary's separate existence would no longer be disregarded for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Instead, the subsidiary would have multiple owners and would be treated as either a partnership or a taxable corporation. Such an event could, depending on the circumstances, adversely affect our ability to satisfy the various asset and gross income requirements applicable to REITs, including the requirement that REITs generally may not own, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the securities of another corporation. See "—Asset tests" and "—Income tests."

        Taxable subsidiaries.    A REIT may jointly elect with a subsidiary corporation, whether or not wholly owned, to treat such subsidiary corporation as a TRS. The REIT generally may not own more than 10% of the securities of a taxable corporation, as measured by voting power or value, unless it and such corporation elect to treat such corporation as a TRS. The separate existence of a TRS or other taxable corporation is not ignored for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a TRS or other taxable subsidiary corporation generally is subject to U.S. federal income tax on its earnings, which may reduce the cash flow that the REIT and its subsidiaries generate in the aggregate, and may reduce the REIT's ability to make distributions to its stockholders.

        A REIT is not treated as holding the assets of a TRS or other taxable subsidiary corporation or as receiving any income that the subsidiary earns. Rather, the stock issued by a taxable subsidiary to it is an asset in its hands, and a REIT treats the dividends paid to it from such taxable subsidiary, if any, as income. This treatment can affect a REIT's income and asset test calculations, as described below. Because a REIT does not include the assets and income of TRSs or other taxable subsidiary corporations in determining its compliance with the REIT requirements, it may use such entities to undertake indirectly activities that the REIT rules might otherwise preclude it from doing directly or through pass-through subsidiaries. For example, a REIT may use TRSs or other taxable subsidiary corporations to conduct activities that give rise to certain categories of income such as management fees or gain from sales of assets held for sale to customers or to conduct activities that, if conducted by the REIT directly, would be treated in its hands as prohibited transactions.

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        The TRS rules limit the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT to assure that the TRS is subject to an appropriate level of U.S. federal income taxation. Further, the rules impose a 100% excise tax on transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT or the REIT's tenants that are not conducted on an arm's-length basis.

Income tests

        In order to maintain our REIT qualification, we must satisfy two gross income requirements on an annual basis. First, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year, excluding gross income from sales of inventory or dealer property in "prohibited transactions," discharge of indebtedness and certain hedging transactions, generally must be derived from investments relating to real property or mortgages on real property, including interest income derived from mortgage loans secured by real property (including certain types of mortgage-backed securities), "rents from real property" (generally, rents for use of real property, but not including certain contingent and related party rents), dividends received from other REITs, and gains from the sale of real estate assets, as well as specified income from temporary investments. Second, at least 95% of our gross income in each taxable year, excluding gross income from prohibited transactions, discharge of indebtedness and certain hedging transactions, must be derived from some combination of income that qualifies under the 75% gross income test described above, as well as other dividends, interest, and gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, which need not have any relation to real property. Income and gain from certain hedging transactions will be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests. We intend to monitor the amount of our non-qualifying income and manage our portfolio of assets to comply with the gross income tests but we cannot assure you that we will be successful in this effort.

        As indicated above, for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests, a REIT is deemed to have earned a proportionate share of the income earned by any partnership, or any limited liability company treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in which it owns an interest, which share is determined by reference to its capital interest in such entity, and is deemed to have earned the income earned by any qualified REIT subsidiary.

        Interest income.    Interest income constitutes qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% gross income test (as described above) to the extent that the obligation upon which such interest is paid is secured by a mortgage on real property. If we receive interest income with respect to a mortgage loan that is secured by both real property and other property, and the highest principal amount of the loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value of the real property on the date that we acquired or originated the mortgage loan (or, as discussed further below, in the event of a "significant modification," the date we modified the loan), the interest income will be apportioned between the real property and the other collateral, and our income from the arrangement will qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test only to the extent that the interest is allocable to the real property. Even if a loan is not secured by real property, or is undersecured, the income that it generates may nonetheless qualify for purposes of the 95% gross income test.

        In the event that we invest in a mortgage that is secured by both real property and other property, we would be required to apportion our annual interest income to the real property security based on a fraction, the numerator of which is the value of the real property securing the loan, determined as of (i) the date we committed to acquire the loan or (ii) as discussed further below, in the event of a "significant modification," the date we modified the loan, and the denominator of which is the highest "principal amount" of the loan during the year. IRS Revenue Procedure 2011-16 interprets the "principal amount" of the loan to be the face amount of the loan, despite the Internal Revenue Code requiring taxpayers to treat any market discount, that is the difference between the purchase price of the loan and its face amount, for all purposes (other than certain withholding and information reporting purposes) as interest rather than principal. Any mortgage loan that we invest in that is not

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fully secured by real property may therefore be subject to the interest apportionment rules and the position taken in IRS Revenue Procedure 2011-16 as described above.

        Under the Code, if the terms of a loan are modified in a manner constituting a "significant modification," such modification triggers a deemed exchange of the original loan for the modified loan. IRS Revenue Procedure 2011-16 provides a safe harbor pursuant to which we will not be required to redetermine the fair market value of the real property securing a loan for purposes of the gross income tests in connection with a loan modification that is (i) occasioned by a borrower default or (ii) made at a time when we reasonably believe that the modification to the loan will substantially reduce a risk of default on the original loan. No assurance can be provided that all of our loan modifications have or will qualify for the safe harbor in Revenue Procedure 2011-16. To the extent we significantly modify a loan in a manner that does not qualify for that safe harbor, we will be required to redetermine the value of the real property securing the loan at the time it is significantly modified. If the terms of our mortgage loans are significantly modified in a manner that does not qualify for the safe harbor in Revenue Procedure 2011-16 and the fair market value of the real property securing such loans has decreased significantly, we could fail the 75% gross income test.

        To the extent that the terms of a loan provide for contingent interest that is based on the cash proceeds realized upon the sale of the property securing the loan (or a shared appreciation provision), income attributable to the participation feature will be treated as gain from sale of the underlying property, which generally will be qualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests, provided that the property is not inventory or dealer property in the hands of the borrower or us.

        To the extent that we derive interest income from a loan where all or a portion of the amount of interest payable is contingent, such income generally will qualify for purposes of the gross income tests only if it is based upon the gross receipts or sales and not the net income or profits of any person. This limitation does not apply, however, to a mortgage loan where the borrower derives substantially all of its income from the property from the leasing of substantially all of its interest in the property to tenants, to the extent that the rental income derived by the borrower would qualify as rents from real property had it been earned directly by us.

        We invest in Agency and Non-Agency mortgage-backed securities that are either mortgage pass-through certificates or CMOs. These mortgage-backed securities typically are treated either as interests in a grantor trust or as interests in a REMIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the case of mortgage-backed securities treated as interests in grantor trusts, we are treated as owning an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the mortgage loans held by the grantor trust. The interest, original issue discount and market discount, on such mortgage loans are qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test to the extent that the obligation is secured by real property, as discussed above. In the case of mortgage-backed securities treated as interests in a REMIC, income derived from REMIC interests are generally treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and the 95% gross income tests. If less than 95% of the assets of the REMIC are real estate assets, however, then only a proportionate part of our interest in the REMIC and income derived from the interest qualifies for purposes of the 75% gross income test. In addition, some REMIC securitizations include imbedded interest swap or cap contracts or other derivative instruments that potentially could produce non-qualifying income for the holder of the related REMIC securities. We expect that substantially all of our income from mortgage-backed securities will be qualifying income for purposes of the REIT gross income tests.

        We may hold certain participation interests, including B Notes, in mortgage loans. B Notes are interests in underlying loans created by virtue of participations or similar agreements to which the originators of the loans are parties, along with one or more participants. The borrower on the underlying loan is typically not a party to the participation agreement. The performance of this

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investment depends upon the performance of the underlying loan and, if the underlying borrower defaults, the participant typically has no recourse against the originator of the loan. The originator often retains a senior position in the underlying loan and grants junior participations which absorb losses first in the event of a default by the borrower. We generally expect to treat our participation interests as qualifying real estate assets for purposes of the REIT asset tests described below and interest that we derive from such investments as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% gross income test. The appropriate treatment of participation interests for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not entirely certain, however, and no assurance can be given that the IRS will not challenge our treatment of our participation interests. In the event of a determination that such participation interests do not qualify as real estate assets, or that the income that we derive from such participation interests does not qualify as mortgage interest for purposes of the REIT asset and income tests, we could be subject to a penalty tax, or could fail to maintain our REIT qualification.

        We purchase Agency RMBS through "to be announced" forward contracts or TBAs and may recognize income or gains from the disposition of those TBAs, through dollar roll transactions or otherwise. There is no direct authority with respect to the qualification of income or gains from dispositions of TBAs as gains from the sale of real property (including interests in real property and interests in mortgages on real property) or other qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. We do not treat these items as qualifying for purposes of the 75% gross income test and will not do so unless we receive reasoned, written opinion of our counsel that such income and gains should be treated as qualifying for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Consequently, our ability to enter into dollar roll transactions and other dispositions of TBAs is limited. No assurance can be given that the IRS will treat such income as qualifying income. We do not expect to have significant income from the disposition of TBAs, and therefore do not expect such income to adversely affect our ability to meet the 75% and 95% gross income tests. In the event that such income were determined not to be qualifying for the 75% gross income test, we could be subject to a penalty tax or we could fail to maintain our REIT qualification if such income when added to any other non-qualifying income exceeded 25% of our gross income.

        We enter into sale and repurchase agreements under which we nominally sell certain of our mortgage-backed securities to a counterparty and simultaneously enter into an agreement to repurchase the sold assets in exchange for a purchase price that reflects a financing charge. Economically, these agreements are financings, which are secured by the securities "sold" pursuant thereto. We believe that we are treated for REIT income test purposes as the owner of the securities that are the subject of any such agreement notwithstanding that such agreements may transfer record ownership of the assets to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. It is possible, however, that the IRS could assert that we did not own the mortgage-backed securities during the term of the sale and repurchase agreement, in which case we could fail to maintain our REIT qualification.

        Dividend income.    We may directly or indirectly receive distributions from TRSs or other corporations that are not REITs or qualified REIT subsidiaries. These distributions generally are treated as dividend income to the extent of the earnings and profits of the distributing corporation. Such distributions generally constitute qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test, but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Any dividends that we receive from a REIT, however, are qualifying income for purposes of both the 95% and 75% gross income tests.

        Interest apportionment and REMICs.    The interest apportionment tax rules provide that, if a mortgage is secured by both real property and other property, the REIT is required to apportion its annual interest income between the portion attributable to a mortgage on the real property and the portion attributable to other property (which is not treated as mortgage interest). The interest apportionment tax regulations apply only if the mortgage loan in question is secured by both real property and other property. We expect that all or most of the mortgage loans that we acquire will be

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secured only by real property and no other property value is taken into account in our underwriting process.

        In addition, the Internal Revenue Code provides that a regular or a residual interest in a REMIC is generally treated as a real estate asset for the purpose of the REIT asset tests, and any amount includible in our gross income with respect to such an interest is generally treated as interest on an obligation secured by a mortgage on real property for the purpose of the REIT gross income tests. If, however, less than 95% of the assets of a REMIC in which we hold an interest consist of real estate assets (determined as if we held such assets), we are treated as receiving directly our proportionate share of the income of the REMIC for the purpose of determining the amount of income from the REMIC that is treated as interest on an obligation secured by a mortgage on real property. In connection with the recently expanded Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP program, the IRS recently issued guidance providing that, among other things, if a REIT holds a regular interest in an "eligible REMIC," or a residual interest in an "eligible REMIC" that informs the REIT that at least 80% of the REMIC's assets constitute real estate assets, then the REIT may treat 80% of the gross income received with respect to the interest in the REMIC as interest on an obligation secured by a mortgage on real property for the purpose of the 75% gross income test. For this purpose, a REMIC is an "eligible REMIC" if (1) the REMIC has received a guarantee from Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac that will allow the REMIC to make any principal and interest payments on its regular and residual interests and (2) all of the REMIC's mortgages and pass-through certificates are secured by interests in single-family dwellings. If we were to acquire an interest in an eligible REMIC less than 95% of the assets of which constitute real estate assets, the IRS guidance described above may generally allow us to treat 80% of the gross income derived from the interest as qualifying income for the purposes of 75% REIT gross income test. Although the portion of the income from such a REMIC interest that does not qualify would likely be qualifying income for the purpose of the 95% REIT gross income test, the remaining 20% of the REMIC interest generally would not qualify as a real estate asset, which could adversely affect our ability to satisfy this test.

        Fee income.    Fees will generally be qualifying income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests if they are received in consideration for entering into an agreement to make a loan secured by real property and the fees are not determined by income and profits. Other fees generally will not be qualifying income for purposes of either gross income test. Any fees earned by a TRS will not be included for purposes of the gross income tests.

        Hedging transactions.    Any income or gain that we or our pass-through subsidiaries derive from instruments that hedge certain risks, such as the risk of changes in interest rates, will be excluded from gross income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests, provided that specified requirements are met, including the requirement that the instrument is entered into during the ordinary course of our business, the instrument hedges risks associated with indebtedness issued by us or our pass-through subsidiary that is incurred to acquire or carry "real estate assets" (as described below under "—Asset tests"), and the instrument is properly identified as a hedge along with the risk that it hedges within prescribed time periods. Income and gain from all other hedging transactions will not be qualifying income for either the 95% or 75% gross income test.

        Rents from real property.    Rents we receive for the use of real property generally will qualify as "rents from real property" (which may be received, if at all, only in respect of any property securing a loan that we invest in should we have to foreclose on such property) in satisfying the gross income tests only if several conditions are met. First, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term "rents from real property" solely because it is based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Second, rents received from a tenant generally will not qualify as "rents from real property" in satisfying the gross income tests if we, or an actual or constructive owner

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of 10% or more of our stock, actually or constructively owns 10% or more of such tenant. Third, if rent attributable to personal property, leased in connection with a lease of real property, is greater than 15% of the total rent received under the lease, then the portion of rent attributable to such personal property will not qualify as "rents from real property." Finally, for rents received to qualify as "rents from real property," generally we must not operate or manage the property or furnish or render services to the tenants of such property, other than through an independent contractor from whom we derive no revenue. We may, however, directly perform certain services that are "usually or customarily rendered" in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not otherwise considered "rendered to the occupant" of the property. To the extent that services (other than those customarily furnished or rendered in connection with the rental of real property) are rendered to the tenants of the property by an independent contractor, the cost of the services must be borne by the independent contractor.

        Failure to satisfy the gross income tests.    We intend to monitor our sources of income, including any non-qualifying income received by us, and manage our assets so as to ensure our compliance with the gross income tests. We cannot assure you, however, that we will be able to satisfy the gross income tests. If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% or 95% gross income tests for any taxable year, including as a result of income and gains from the disposition of TBAs, we may still maintain our qualification as a REIT for such year if we are entitled to relief under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. These relief provisions will be generally available if (1) our failure to meet these tests was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect and (2) following our identification of the failure to meet the 75% or 95% gross income test for any taxable year, we file a schedule with the IRS setting forth each item of our gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income test for such taxable year in accordance with U.S. Treasury Department regulations yet to be issued. It is not possible to state whether we would be entitled to the benefit of these relief provisions in all circumstances. If these relief provisions are inapplicable to a particular set of circumstances, we will fail to maintain our qualification as a REIT. Even where these relief provisions apply, the Internal Revenue Code imposes a tax based upon the profit attributable to the amount by which we fail to satisfy the particular gross income test.

        Timing differences between receipt of cash and recognition of income.    Due to the nature of the assets in which we invest, we may be required to recognize taxable income from those assets in advance of our receipt of cash flow on or proceeds from disposition of such assets, and may be required to report taxable income in early periods that exceeds the economic income ultimately realized on such assets.

        We may continue to acquire mortgage-backed securities in the secondary market for less than their face amount. In addition, as a result of our ownership of certain mortgage-backed securities, we may be treated for tax purposes as holding certain debt instruments acquired in the secondary market for less than their face amount. The discount at which such securities or debt instruments are acquired may reflect doubts about their ultimate collectability rather than current market interest rates. The amount of such discount will nevertheless generally be treated as "market discount" for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

        Accrued market discount is generally recognized as income when, and to the extent that, any payment of principal on the mortgage-backed security or debt instrument is made. If we collect less on the mortgage-backed security or debt instrument than our purchase price plus the market discount we had previously reported as income, we may not be able to benefit from any offsetting loss deductions in a subsequent taxable year.

        Moreover, some of the mortgage-backed securities that we acquire may have been issued with original issue discount. In general, we will be required to accrue original issue discount based on the constant yield to maturity of the securities, and to treat it as taxable income in accordance with

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applicable U.S. federal income tax rules even though smaller or no cash payments are received on such securities. As in the case of the market discount discussed in the preceding paragraph, the constant yield in question will be determined and we will be taxed based on the assumption that all future payments due on the mortgage-backed securities in question will be made, with consequences similar to those described in the previous paragraph if all payments on the securities are not made.

        In addition, as a result of our ownership of certain mortgage-backed securities, we may be treated for tax purposes as holding distressed debt investments that are subsequently modified by agreement with the borrower. If the amendments to the outstanding debt are "significant modifications" under the applicable U.S. Treasury Department regulations, the modified debt may be considered to have been reissued to us in a debt-for-debt exchange with the borrower. In that event, we may be required to recognize taxable gain to the extent the principal amount of the modified debt exceeds our adjusted tax basis in the unmodified debt, even if the value of the debt or the payment expectations have not changed. Following such a taxable modification, we would hold the modified loan with a cost basis equal to its principal amount for U.S. federal tax purposes. To the extent that such modifications are made with respect to a debt instrument held by a TRS that is treated as a dealer or trader and that makes an election to use mark-to-market accounting, such TRS would be required at the end of each taxable year, including the taxable year in which any such modification were made, to mark the modified debt instrument to its fair market value as if the debt instrument were sold. In that case, the TRS could recognize a loss at the end of the taxable year in which the modifications were made to the extent that the fair market value of such debt instrument at such time was less than the TRS's tax basis in the instrument.

        In addition, in the event mortgage-backed securities, or any debt instruments we are treated for tax purposes as holding as a result of our investments in mortgage-backed securities, are delinquent as to mandatory principal and interest payments, we may nonetheless be required to continue to recognize the unpaid interest as taxable income as it accrues, despite doubt as to its ultimate collectability. Similarly, we may be required to accrue interest income with respect to subordinate mortgage-backed securities at the stated rate regardless of whether corresponding cash payments are received.

        Finally, we may be required under the terms of indebtedness that we incur to use cash received from interest payments to make principal payments on that indebtedness, with the effect of recognizing income but not having a corresponding amount of cash available for distribution to our stockholders.

        Due to potential timing differences between income recognition and cash receipts, there is a significant risk that we may have substantial taxable income in excess of cash available for distribution. In that event, we may need to borrow funds or take other action to satisfy the REIT distribution requirements for the taxable year in which this "phantom income" is recognized. See "—Annual distribution requirements."

Asset tests

        At the close of each calendar quarter, we must also satisfy four tests relating to the nature of our assets.

        First, at least 75% of the value of our total assets must be represented by some combination of "real estate assets," cash, cash items, U.S. Government securities, and, under some circumstances, stock or debt instruments purchased with new capital. For this purpose, "real estate assets" include some kinds of mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans, as well as interests in real property and stock of other corporations that qualify as REITs. If a loan is secured by real property and other property and the highest principal amount of the loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value of the real property securing the loan as of (i) the date we agreed to acquire or originate the loan, or (ii) in the event of a significant modification, the date we modified the loan, then a portion of the loan will be a non-qualifying asset for purposes of the 75% asset test. IRS Revenue Procedure

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2011-16 provides a safe harbor under which the IRS has stated that it will not challenge a REIT's treatment of a loan as being, in part, a qualifying real estate asset in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the real property securing the loan on the date we agreed to acquire or originate the loan (or, in the event of a significant modification, the date we modified the loan) or (ii) the fair market value of the loan on the date of the relevant quarterly REIT asset testing date. In addition, IRS Revenue Procedure 2011-16 provides a safe harbor pursuant to which we will not be required to redetermine the fair market value of the real property securing a loan for purposes of the 75% asset test in connection with a loan modification, if the loan modification is (i) occasioned by a borrower default; or (ii) made at a time when we reasonably believe that the modification to the loan will substantially reduce a risk of default on the original loan. No assurance can be provided that all of our loan modifications have or will qualify for the safe harbor in Revenue Procedure 2011-16. Assets that do not qualify for purposes of the 75% asset test are subject to the additional asset tests described below.

        Second, the value of any one issuer's securities that we own may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets.

        Third, we may not own more than 10% of any one issuer's outstanding securities, as measured by either value ("10% of value asset test") or voting power. The 5% and 10% asset tests do not apply to securities of TRSs and qualified REIT subsidiaries and the 10% of value asset test does not apply to "straight debt" having specified characteristics and to certain other securities described below. Solely for purposes of the 10% of value asset test, the determination of our interest in the assets of a partnership (or entity treated as a partnership for tax purposes) in which we own an interest will be based on our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership (or entity treated as a partnership for tax purposes), excluding for this purpose certain securities described in the Internal Revenue Code.

        Fourth, the aggregate value of all securities of TRSs that we hold may not exceed 25% of the value of our total assets.

        Notwithstanding the general rule, as noted above, that for purposes of the REIT income and asset tests we are treated as owning our proportionate share of the underlying assets of a subsidiary partnership, if we hold indebtedness issued by a partnership, the indebtedness will be subject to, and may cause a violation of, the asset tests unless the indebtedness is a qualifying mortgage asset or other conditions are met. Similarly, although stock of another REIT is a qualifying asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests, any non-mortgage debt that is issued by another REIT may not so qualify (such debt, however, will not be treated as "securities" for purposes of the 10% of value asset test, as explained below).

        Certain securities will not cause a violation of the 10% of value asset test described above. Such securities include instruments that constitute "straight debt," which includes, among other things, securities having certain contingency features. A security does not qualify as "straight debt" where a REIT (or a "controlled taxable REIT subsidiary," as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, of the REIT) owns other securities of the same issuer which do not qualify as straight debt, unless the value of those other securities constitute, in the aggregate, 1% or less of the total value of that issuer's outstanding securities. In addition to straight debt, the Internal Revenue Code provides that certain other securities will not violate the 10% of value asset test. Such securities include (1) any loan made to an individual or an estate, (2) certain rental agreements pursuant to which one or more payments are to be made in subsequent years (other than agreements between a REIT and certain persons related to the REIT under attribution rules), (3) any obligation to pay rents from real property, (4) securities issued by governmental entities that are not dependent in whole or in part on the profits of (or payments made by) a non-governmental entity, (5) any security (including debt securities) issued by another REIT, and (6) any debt instrument issued by a partnership if the partnership's income is of

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a nature that it would satisfy the 75% gross income test described above under "—Income tests." In applying the 10% of value asset test, a debt security issued by a partnership is not taken into account to the extent of the REIT's proportionate interest, if any, in the equity and debt securities issued by that partnership.

        We invest in Agency and non-Agency mortgage-backed securities that are either mortgage pass-through certificates or CMOs. These securities typically are treated either as interests in grantor trusts or as interests in REMICs for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the case of mortgage-backed securities treated as interests in grantor trusts, we are treated as owning an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the mortgage loans held by the grantor trust. Such mortgage loans generally qualify as real estate assets to the extent that they are secured by real property. We expect that substantially all of our mortgage-backed securities treated as interests in grantor trusts will qualify as real estate assets.

        In the case of mortgage-backed securities treated as interests in a REMIC, such interests generally qualify as real estate assets. If less than 95% of the assets of a REMIC are real estate assets, however, then only a proportionate part of our interest in the REMIC qualifies for purposes of the REIT asset tests. In connection with the recently expanded HARP program, the IRS recently issued guidance providing that, among other things, if a REIT holds a regular interest in an "eligible REMIC," or a residual interest in an "eligible REMIC" that informs the REIT that at least 80% of the REMIC's assets constitute real estate assets, then the REIT may treat 80% of the value of the interest in the REMIC as a real estate asset for the purpose of the REIT asset tests. For this purpose, a REMIC is an "eligible REMIC" if (1) the REMIC has received a guarantee from Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac that will allow the REMIC to make any principal and interest payments on its regular and residual interests and (2) all of the REMIC's mortgages and pass-through certificates are secured by interests in single-family dwellings. If we were to acquire an interest in an eligible REMIC less than 95% of the assets of which constitute real estate assets, the IRS guidance described above may generally allow us to treat 80% of our interest in such a REMIC as a qualifying real estate asset for the purpose of the REIT asset tests. The remaining 20% of the REMIC interest generally would not qualify as a real estate asset, which could adversely affect our ability to satisfy the REIT asset tests.

        If we hold a "residual interest" in a REMIC from which we derive "excess inclusion income," we will be required to either distribute the excess inclusion income or pay tax on it (or a combination of the two), even though we may not receive the income in cash. See "—Taxable mortgage pools and excess inclusion income."

        We enter into sale and repurchase agreements under which we nominally sell certain of our mortgage-backed securities to a counterparty and simultaneously enter into an agreement to repurchase the sold assets in exchange for a purchase price that reflects a financing charge. Economically, these agreements are financings, which are secured by the securities "sold" pursuant thereto. We believe that we are treated for REIT asset test purposes as the owner of the securities that are the subject of any such agreement notwithstanding that such agreements may transfer record ownership of the assets to the counterparty during the term of the agreement. It is possible, however, that the IRS could assert that we did not own the mortgage-backed securities during the term of the sale and repurchase agreement, in which case we could fail to maintain our REIT qualification.

        We purchase Agency RMBS through TBAs. There is no direct authority with respect to the qualification of TBAs as real estate assets or Government securities for purposes of the 75% asset test and we do not treat TBAs as such, and we will not do so unless we receive reasoned, written opinion of our counsel that TBAs should be treated as qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test. Consequently, our ability to purchase TBAs is limited. No assurances can be given that the IRS will treat TBAs as qualifying assets. We do not expect that a significant portion of our assets will be comprised of TBAs, and therefore we do not expect any TBAs to adversely affect our ability to meet

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the 75% asset test. In the event that TBAs were determined not to be qualifying for the 75% asset test, we could be subject to a penalty tax or we could fail to maintain our REIT qualification if such assets when added to any other non-qualifying assets exceeded 25% of our gross assets.

        We expect that the assets comprising our mortgage related investments and securities that we own generally will be qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test, and we intend to monitor compliance on an ongoing basis. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be successful in this effort. No independent appraisals have been obtained to support our conclusions as to the value of our total assets or the value of any particular security or securities. Moreover, values of some assets, including instruments issued in securitization transactions, may not be susceptible to a precise determination, and values are subject to change in the future. Furthermore, the proper classification of an instrument as debt or equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be uncertain in some circumstances, which could affect the application of the REIT asset requirements. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not contend that our interests in our subsidiaries or in the securities of other issuers will not cause a violation of the REIT asset tests.

        However, certain relief provisions are available to allow REITs to satisfy the asset requirements or to maintain REIT qualification notwithstanding certain violations of the asset and other requirements. One such provision allows a REIT which fails one or more of the asset requirements to nevertheless maintain its REIT qualification if (1) the REIT provides the IRS with a description of each asset causing the failure, (2) the failure is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, (3) the REIT pays a tax equal to the greater of (a) $50,000 per failure, and (b) the product of the net income generated by the assets that caused the failure multiplied by the highest applicable rate applicable to corporations (currently 35%), and (4) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within six months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or otherwise satisfies the relevant asset tests within that time frame.

        In the case of de minimis violations of the 10% and 5% asset tests, a REIT may maintain its qualification despite a violation of such requirements if (1) the value of the assets causing the violation does not exceed the lesser of 1% of the REIT's total assets and $10,000,000, and (2) the REIT either disposes of the assets causing the failure within six months after the last day of the quarter in which it identifies the failure, or the relevant tests are otherwise satisfied within that time frame.

        If we should fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter, including any failure to satisfy the 75% asset test as a result of any investments in TBAs, such a failure would not cause us to lose our REIT qualification if we (1) satisfied the asset tests at the close of the preceding calendar quarter and (2) the discrepancy between the value of our assets and the asset requirements was not wholly or partly caused by an acquisition of non-qualifying assets, but instead arose from changes in the market value of our assets. If the condition described in (2) were not satisfied, we still could avoid disqualification by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which it arose or by making use of relief provisions described above.

Annual distribution requirements

        In order to maintain our REIT qualification, we are required to distribute dividends, other than capital gain dividends, to our stockholders in an amount at least equal to:

1.

the sum of



a.

90% of our "REIT taxable income," computed without regard to our net capital gains and the deduction for dividends paid, and



b.

90% of our net income, if any, (after tax) from foreclosure property (as described below), minus



2.

the sum of specified items of non-cash income that exceeds a certain percentage of our income.

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        We generally must make these distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if such distributions are declared before we timely file our tax return for the year and are paid with or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration (provided that such payment is made during the 12-month period following the close of such taxable year). These latter distributions are taxable to our stockholders in the year in which they are paid, even though these latter distributions relate to our prior taxable year for purposes of the 90% distribution requirement. In order for distributions to be counted as satisfying the annual distribution requirements for REITs, and to provide us with a REIT-level tax deduction, the distributions must not be "preferential dividends." A dividend is not a preferential dividend if the distribution is (1) pro rata among all outstanding shares of stock within a particular class, and (2) in accordance with the preferences among different classes of stock as set forth in our organizational documents.

        To the extent that we distribute at least 90%, but less than 100%, of "REIT taxable income," as adjusted, we will be subject to tax at ordinary U.S. federal corporate income tax rates on the retained portion. We may elect to retain, rather than distribute, our net long-term capital gains and pay tax on such gains. In this case, we could elect for our stockholders to include their proportionate shares of such undistributed long-term capital gains in income, and to receive a corresponding credit or refund, as the case may be, for their share of the tax that we paid. Our stockholders would then increase their adjusted basis of their stock by the difference between (1) the amounts of capital gain dividends that we designated and that they include in their taxable income, minus (2) the tax that we paid on their behalf with respect to that income.

        To the extent that in the future we may have available net operating losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. Such losses, however, will generally not affect the character, in the hands of our stockholders, of any distributions that are actually made as ordinary dividends or capital gains. See "—Taxation of stockholders—Taxation of taxable U.S. stockholders—Distributions."

        If we fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (1) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (2) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (3) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we will be subject to a non-deductible 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the sum of (a) the amounts actually distributed (taking into account excess distributions from prior periods), plus (b) the amounts of income we retained and on which we have paid U.S. federal income tax. We intend to make timely distributions so that we are not subject to the 4% excise tax.

        As discussed above under "—Income tests—Timing differences between receipt of cash and recognition of income," it is possible that, from time to time, we may not have sufficient cash to meet the distribution requirements due to timing differences between our actual receipt of cash and our inclusion of items in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the event that such timing differences occur, in order to meet the distribution requirements, it might be necessary for us to arrange for short-term, or possibly long-term, borrowings, to use cash reserves, to liquidate non- cash assets at rates or times we regard as unfavorable, or to pay dividends in the form of taxable in-kind distributions of property. Alternatively, we may declare a taxable dividend payable in cash or stock at the election of each stockholder, where the aggregate amount of cash to be distributed in such dividend may be subject to limitation. In such case, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, taxable stockholders receiving such dividends will be required to include the full amount of the dividend as income and would be required to satisfy the tax liability associated with the dividend with cash from other sources including sales of our stock. Both a taxable stock dividend and sale of stock resulting from such dividend could adversely affect the price of our stock.

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        We may be able to rectify a failure to meet the distribution requirements for a year by paying "deficiency dividends" to stockholders in a later year, which may be included in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. In this case, we may be able to avoid losing REIT qualification or being taxed on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends. We will be required to pay interest and a penalty based on the amount of any deduction taken for deficiency dividends.

Recordkeeping requirements

        We are required to maintain records and request on an annual basis information from specified stockholders. These requirements are designed to assist us in determining the actual ownership of our outstanding stock and maintaining our qualifications as a REIT.

Prohibited transactions

        Net income that we derive from a prohibited transaction is subject to a 100% tax. The term "prohibited transaction" generally includes a sale or other disposition of property (other than foreclosure property, as discussed below) that is held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business by us (or a lower tier partnership in which we own an equity interest) or by a borrower that has issued a shared appreciation mortgage or similar debt instrument to us. We intend to conduct our operations so that no asset that we own (or are treated as owning) will be treated as, or as having been, held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers, and that a sale of any such asset will not be treated as having been in the ordinary course of our business. Whether property is held as inventory or "primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business" depends on the particular facts and circumstances. No assurance can be given that any property that we sell will not be treated as property held as inventory or primarily for sale to customers, or that we can comply with certain safe-harbor provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that would prevent such treatment. In particular, there is a risk that certain loans that we are treating as owning for U.S. federal income tax purposes and property received upon foreclosure of these loans will be treated as held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. Although we expect to avoid the prohibited transactions tax by contributing those assets to one of our TRSs and conducting the marketing and sale of those assets through that TRS, no assurance can be given that the IRS will respect the transaction by which those assets are contributed to our TRS. The 100% tax does not apply to gains from the sale of property that is held through a TRS or other taxable corporation, although such income will be subject to tax in the hands of the corporation at regular U.S. federal income tax rates. We intend to structure our activities to avoid prohibited transaction characterization.

Foreclosure property

        Foreclosure property is real property and any personal property incident to such real property (1) that we acquire as the result of having bid on the property at foreclosure, or having otherwise reduced the property to ownership or possession by agreement or process of law, after a default (or upon imminent default) on a lease of the property or a mortgage loan held by us and secured by the property, (2) for which we acquired the related loan or lease at a time when default was not imminent or anticipated, and (3) with respect to which we made a proper election to treat the property as foreclosure property. We generally will be subject to tax at the maximum U.S. federal corporate rate (currently 35%) on any net income from foreclosure property, including any gain from the disposition of the foreclosure property, other than income that would otherwise be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Any gain from the sale of property for which a foreclosure property election has been made will not be subject to the 100% tax on gains from prohibited transactions described above, even if the property would otherwise constitute inventory or dealer property. Because we will invest primarily in mortgage-backed securities, we do not anticipate receiving any income from

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foreclosure property that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test, but if we do receive any such income, we intend to elect to treat the related property as foreclosure property.

        Property generally ceases to be foreclosure property at the end of the third taxable year following the taxable year in which the REIT acquired the property, or longer if an extension is granted by the IRS. This grace period terminates, and foreclosure property ceases to be foreclosure property, on the first day occurring: (i) on which a lease is entered into for the property that, by its terms, will give rise to income that does not qualify for the purposes of the 75% gross income test, or any amount is received or accrued, directly or indirectly, pursuant to a lease entered into on or after such day that will give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test; (ii) on which any construction takes place on the property, other than completion of a building or any other improvement, where more than 10% of the construction was completed before default became imminent; or (iii) which is more than 90 days after the day on which the REIT acquired the property and the property is used in a trade or business which is conducted by the REIT, other than through an independent contractor from whom the REIT itself does not derive or receive any income.

Derivatives and hedging transactions

        We enter into hedging transactions with respect to interest rate exposure on one or more of our assets or liabilities. Any such hedging transactions could take a variety of forms, including the use of derivative instruments such as interest rate swap contracts, interest rate cap or floor contracts, futures or forward contracts, and options. Except to the extent provided by U.S. Treasury Department regulations, any income from a hedging transaction we enter into (1) in the normal course of our business primarily to manage risk of interest rate changes or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, to acquire or carry real estate assets, which is clearly identified as specified in U.S. Treasury Department regulations before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into, including gain from the sale or disposition of such a transaction, and (2) primarily to manage risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% income tests which is clearly identified as such before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into, will not constitute gross income for purposes of the 75% or 95% gross income test. To the extent that we enter into other types of hedging transactions, the income from those transactions is likely to be treated as non-qualifying income for purposes of both of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT. No assurance can be given, however, that our hedging activities will not give rise to income that does not qualify for purposes of either or both of the REIT gross income tests, or that our hedging activities will not adversely affect our ability to satisfy the REIT qualification requirements.

Taxable mortgage pools and excess inclusion income

        An entity, or a portion of an entity, may be classified as a pool as defined under Section 7701(i) of the Internal Revenue Code, or TMP, if

•

substantially all of its assets consist of debt obligations or interests in debt obligations,



•

more than 50% of those debt obligations are real estate mortgages or interests in real estate mortgages as of specified testing dates,



•

the entity has issued debt obligations (liabilities) that have two or more maturities, and



•

the payments required to be made by the entity on its debt obligations (liabilities) "bear a relationship" to the payments to be received by the entity on the debt obligations that it holds as assets.

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        Under regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, if less than 80% of the assets of an entity (or a portion of an entity) consist of debt obligations, these debt obligations are considered not to comprise "substantially all" of its assets, and therefore the entity (or such portion of the entity) would not be treated as a TMP. Our financing and securitization arrangements may give rise to TMPs, with the consequences as described below. Specifically, we may securitize mortgage-backed securities that we acquire and such securitizations may result in us owning interests in a TMP.

        Where an entity, or a portion of an entity, is classified as a TMP, it is generally treated as a taxable corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the case of a REIT, or a portion of a REIT, or a disregarded subsidiary of a REIT, that is a TMP, however, special rules apply. Specifically, the TMP is not treated as a corporation that is subject to U.S. federal income tax, and the TMP classification does not adversely affect the qualification of the REIT. Rather, the consequences of the TMP classification would, in general, except as described below, be limited to the stockholders of the REIT.

        A portion of the REIT's income from the TMP arrangement could be treated as "excess inclusion income." The REIT's excess inclusion income, including any excess inclusion income from a residual interest in a REMIC, must be allocated among its stockholders in proportion to dividends paid. The REIT is required to notify stockholders of the amount of "excess inclusion income" allocated to them. A stockholder's share of excess inclusion income:

•

cannot be offset by any net operating losses otherwise available to the stockholder,



•

is subject to tax as unrelated business taxable income in the hands of most types of stockholders that are otherwise generally exempt from U.S. federal income tax, and



•

results in the application of U.S. federal income tax withholding at the maximum rate (30%), without reduction for any otherwise applicable income tax treaty or other exemption, to the extent allocable to most types of non-U.S. stockholders.

        See "—Taxation of stockholders." To the extent that excess inclusion income is allocated to a tax-exempt stockholder of a REIT that is a "disqualified organization" (i.e., that is not subject to unrelated business income tax, such as a government entity or charitable remainder trust), the REIT may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on this income at the highest rate applicable to corporations (currently 35%). In that case, the REIT could reduce distributions to such stockholders by the amount of such tax paid by the REIT attributable to such stockholder's ownership. U.S. Treasury Department regulations provide that such a reduction in distributions does not give rise to a preferential dividend that could adversely affect the REIT's compliance with its distribution requirements. See "—Annual distribution requirements." The manner in which excess inclusion income is calculated, or would be allocated to stockholders, including allocations among shares of different classes of stock, is not clear under current law. As required by IRS guidance, we intend to make such determinations using a reasonable method. Tax-exempt investors, non-U.S. investors and taxpayers with net operating losses should carefully consider the tax consequences described above, and are urged to consult their tax advisors.

        To the extent that our stock owned by "disqualified organizations" is held by a broker or other nominee, the broker/dealer or other nominees would be liable for a U.S. federal income tax at the highest rate applicable to corporations (currently 35%) on the portion of our excess inclusion income allocable to our stock held by the broker/dealer or other nominee on behalf of the "disqualified organizations." A RIC or other pass-through entity owning our stock will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the highest rate applicable to corporations (currently 35%) on any excess inclusion income allocated to its record name owners that are "disqualified organizations."

        If a subsidiary partnership of ours that we do not wholly-own, directly or through one or more disregarded entities, were a TMP, the foregoing rules would not apply. Rather, the partnership that is a

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TMP would be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and would be subject to U.S. federal income tax. In addition, this characterization would alter our income and asset test calculations, and could adversely affect our compliance with those requirements. We intend to monitor the structure of any TMPs in which we have an interest to ensure that they will not adversely affect our qualification as a REIT.

Asset-backed securities

        Investments in asset-backed securities, or ABS, generally are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test applicable to REITs and generally do not generate qualifying income for purposes of the 75% income test applicable to REITs. As a result, we will be limited in our ability to invest in such assets.

Failure to qualify

        If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification other than the income or asset tests, we could avoid disqualification if our failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect and we pay a penalty of $50,000 for each such failure. Relief provisions are available for failures of the income tests and asset tests, as described above in "—Income tests" and "—Asset tests."

        If we fail to maintain our qualification for taxation as a REIT in any taxable year, and the relief provisions described above do not apply, we would be subject to tax, including any applicable alternative minimum tax, on our taxable income at regular corporate rates. We cannot deduct distributions to stockholders in any year in which we are not a REIT, nor would we be required to make distributions in such a year. In this situation, to the extent of current or accumulated earnings and profits, distributions to most U.S. stockholders (as defined below) that are U.S. individuals, trusts and estates will generally be taxable at the preferential income tax rates (i.e., the 20% maximum federal rate) for qualified dividends. In addition, subject to the limitations of the Internal Revenue Code, corporate U.S. stockholders may be eligible for the dividends received deduction. Unless we are entitled to relief under specific statutory provisions, we would also be disqualified from re-electing to be taxed as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we lost qualification. It is not possible to state whether, in all circumstances, we would be entitled to this statutory relief.

Taxation of stockholders

Taxation of taxable U.S. stockholders

        The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our stock applicable to U.S. stockholders who are not tax-exempt stockholders. A "U.S. stockholder" is a beneficial owner of our stock who for U.S. federal income tax purposes is:

•

a citizen or resident of the United States;



•

a corporation (or an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States, or of any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;



•

an estate, the income of which is includable in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or



•

a trust if (1) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person.

        If a partnership, including for this purpose any entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds our stock, the U.S. federal income tax

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treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. An investor that is a partnership and the partners in such partnership should consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our stock.

        Distributions.    So long as we qualify as a REIT, the distributions that we make to our taxable U.S. stockholders out of current or accumulated earnings and profits that we do not designate as capital gain dividends will generally be taken into account by stockholders as ordinary income and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporations. In determining the extent to which a distribution will be treated as being made from our earnings and profits, our earnings and profits will be allocated, on a pro rata basis, first to distributions with respect to any of our preferred stock (including the Series A Preferred Stock), and then to distributions with respect to our common stock.

        With limited exceptions, our dividends are not eligible for taxation at the preferential income tax rates (i.e., the 20% maximum U.S. federal rate) for qualified dividends received by most U.S. stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates from taxable C corporations. Such stockholders, however, are taxed at the preferential rates on dividends designated by and received from REITs to the extent that the dividends are attributable to:

•

income retained by the REIT in the prior taxable year on which the REIT was subject to corporate level income tax (less the amount of tax);



•

dividends received by the REIT from TRSs or other taxable C corporations; or



•

income in the prior taxable year from the sales of "built-in gain" property acquired by the REIT from C corporations in carryover basis transactions (less the amount of corporate tax on such income).

        Distributions that we designate as capital gain dividends will generally be taxed to our U.S. stockholders as long-term capital gains, to the extent that such distributions do not exceed our actual net capital gain for the taxable year, without regard to the period for which the U.S. stockholder that receives such distribution has held its stock. If, for any taxable year, we designate as capital gain dividends any portion of the distributions paid for the year, the portion of the amount so designated (not in excess of our net capital gain for the year) that will be allocable to beneficial owners of our common stock will be the amount so designated multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which will be the total dividends (within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code) paid to beneficial owners of our common stock for the year and the denominator of which will be the total dividends paid to the beneficial owners of shares of all classes of our stock for the year. We may elect to retain and pay taxes on some or all of our net long-term capital gains, in which case provisions of the Internal Revenue Code will treat our U.S. stockholders as having received, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our undistributed capital gains, and the U.S. stockholders will receive a corresponding credit or refund, as the case may be, for taxes that we paid on such undistributed capital gains. U.S. stockholders will increase their adjusted tax basis in our stock by the difference between their allocable share of such retained capital gain and their share of the tax paid by us. See "—Taxation of Five Oaks Investment Corp.—Annual distribution requirements." Corporate U.S. stockholders may be required to treat up to 20% of some capital gain dividends as ordinary income. Long-term capital gains are generally taxable at maximum U.S. federal rates of 20% in the case of U.S. stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates, and 35% in the case of U.S. stockholders that are corporations. Capital gains attributable to our sale of depreciable real property held for more than 12 months are subject to a 25% maximum U.S. federal income tax rate for U.S. stockholders who are taxed as individuals, to the extent of previously claimed depreciation deductions.

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        Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will generally represent a return of capital and will not be taxable to a U.S. stockholder to the extent that the amount of such distributions does not exceed the adjusted tax basis of the U.S. stockholder's shares of our stock in respect of which the distributions were made. Rather, the distribution will reduce the adjusted tax basis of these shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted tax basis of a U.S. stockholder's shares, the U.S. stockholder generally must include such distributions in income as long-term capital gain, or short-term capital gain if the shares have been held for one year or less. In addition, any dividend that we declare in October, November or December of any year and that is payable to a U.S. stockholder of record on a specified date in any such month will be treated as both paid by us and received by the U.S. stockholder on December 31 of such year, provided that we actually pay the dividend before the end of January of the following calendar year.

        To the extent that we have available net operating losses and capital losses carried forward from prior tax years, such losses may reduce the amount of distributions that we must make in order to comply with the REIT distribution requirements. See "—Taxation of Five Oaks Investment Corp.—Annual distribution requirements." Such losses, however, are not passed through to U.S. stockholders and do not offset income of U.S. stockholders from other sources, nor would such losses affect the character of any distributions that we make, which are generally subject to tax in the hands of U.S. stockholders to the extent that we have current or accumulated earnings and profits.

        If excess inclusion income from a TMP or a REMIC residual interest is allocated to any U.S. stockholder, that income will be taxable in the hands of the U.S. stockholder and would not be offset by any net operating losses of the U.S. stockholder that would otherwise be available. See "—Taxation of Five Oaks Investment Corp.—Taxable mortgage pools and excess inclusion income." As required by IRS guidance, we intend to notify our U.S. stockholders if a portion of a dividend paid by us is attributable to excess inclusion income.

        Dispositions of Five Oaks Investment Corp. stock.    In general, a U.S. stockholder will recognize gain or loss upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our stock in an amount equal to the difference between the sum of the fair market value of any property and the amount of cash received in such disposition and the U.S. stockholder's adjusted tax basis in our stock at the time of the disposition. In general, a U.S. stockholder's adjusted tax basis will equal the U.S. stockholder's acquisition cost, increased by the excess of net capital gains deemed distributed to the U.S. stockholder (discussed above) less tax deemed paid on such gain and reduced by distributions constituting returns of capital. In general, capital gains recognized by individuals, trusts and estates upon the sale or disposition of our stock will be subject to a maximum current U.S. federal income tax rate of 20% if our stock is held for more than one year, and will be taxed at ordinary income rates (currently of up to 39.6%) if our stock is held for one year or less. Gains recognized by U.S. stockholders that are corporations are subject to U.S. federal income tax at a maximum current rate of 35%, whether or not such gains are classified as long-term capital gains. The IRS has the authority to prescribe, but has not yet prescribed, regulations that would apply a capital gain tax rate of 25% (which is generally higher than the long-term capital gain tax rates for non-corporate stockholders) to a portion of capital gain realized by a non-corporate stockholder on the sale of REIT stock-that would correspond to the REIT's "unrecaptured Section 1250 gain."

        Capital losses recognized by a U.S. stockholder upon the disposition of our stock that was held for more than one year at the time of disposition will be considered long-term capital losses, and are generally available only to offset capital gain income of the U.S. stockholder but not ordinary income (except in the case of individuals, who may offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income each year). In addition, any loss upon a sale or exchange of shares of our stock by a U.S. stockholder who has held the shares for six months or less, after applying holding period rules, will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of distributions that we make that are required to be treated by the U.S. stockholder as long-term capital gain.

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        If an investor recognizes a loss upon a subsequent disposition of our stock in an amount that exceeds a prescribed threshold, it is possible that the provisions of U.S. Treasury Department regulations involving "reportable transactions" could apply, with a resulting requirement to separately disclose the loss-generating transaction to the IRS. These regulations, though directed towards "tax shelters," are broadly written and apply to transactions that would not typically be considered tax shelters. The Internal Revenue Code imposes significant penalties for failure to comply with these requirements. You should consult your tax advisor concerning any possible disclosure obligation with respect to the receipt or disposition of our stock. Moreover, you should be aware that we and other participants in the transactions in which we are involved (including their advisors) might be subject to separate disclosure requirements pursuant to these regulations.

        Passive activity losses and investment interest limitations.    Distributions that we make and gain arising from the sale or exchange by a U.S. stockholder of our stock will not be treated as passive activity income. As a result, U.S. stockholders will not be able to apply any "passive losses" against income or gain relating to our stock. To the extent that distributions we make do not constitute a return of capital, they will be treated as investment income for purposes of computing the investment interest limitation. A U.S. stockholder that elects to treat capital gain dividends, capital gains from the disposition of stock or qualified dividend income as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitation will be taxed at ordinary income rates on such amounts.

Taxation of non-U.S. stockholders

        The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our stock applicable to non-U.S. stockholders. A "non-U.S. stockholder" is a beneficial owner of our stock that is not a U.S. stockholder (as defined above) and is not an entity or arrangement that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See "—Taxation of taxable U.S. stockholders."

        The following discussion is based on current law, and is for general information only. It addresses only selected, and not all, aspects of U.S. federal income and estate taxation.

        Ordinary dividends.    The portion of dividends received by non-U.S. stockholders that is (1) payable out of our earnings and profits, (2) not attributable to our capital gains from sales or exchanges of U.S. real property interest, as defined under Section 897(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, or USRPI, and (3) not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. stockholder, will generally be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at the rate of 30%, unless reduced or eliminated by treaty. Under some treaties, however, lower rates generally applicable to dividends do not apply to dividends from REITs. In addition, any portion of the dividends paid to non-U.S. stockholders that are treated as excess inclusion income will not be eligible for exemption from the 30% withholding tax or a reduced treaty rate. As previously noted, we may engage in transactions that may result in a portion of our dividends being considered excess inclusion income, and accordingly, a portion of our dividend income may not be eligible for exemption from the 30% withholding rate or a reduced treaty rate. In the case of a taxable stock dividend with respect to which any withholding tax is imposed on a non-U.S. stockholder, we may have to withhold or dispose of part of the shares otherwise distributable in such dividend and use such withheld shares or the proceeds of such disposition to satisfy the withholding tax imposed.

        In general, non-U.S. stockholders will not be considered to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business solely as a result of their ownership of our stock. In cases where the dividend income from a non-U.S. stockholder's investment in our stock is, or is treated as, effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder's conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the non-U.S. stockholder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as U.S. stockholders are taxed with respect to such dividends. Such income must generally be reported on a U.S. income tax return filed by

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or on behalf of the non-U.S. stockholder. Such income may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a non-U.S. stockholder that is a corporation.

        Non-dividend distributions.    Unless (1) our stock constitutes a USRPI, or (2) either (a) the non-U.S. stockholder's investment in our stock is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such non-U.S. stockholder (in which case the non-U.S. stockholder will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. stockholders with respect to such gain) or (b) the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a "tax home" in the U.S. (in which case the non-U.S. stockholder will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual's net capital gain for the year), distributions by us which are not dividends out of our earnings and profits will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax. If we cannot determine at the time a distribution is made whether or not the distribution will exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to dividends. The non-U.S. stockholder may seek a refund from the IRS of any amounts withheld if it is subsequently determined that the distribution was, in fact, in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. If our stock constitutes a USRPI, as described below, distributions that we make in excess of the sum of (x) the non-U.S. stockholder's proportionate share of our earnings and profits, plus (y) the non-U.S. stockholder's tax basis in our stock, will be taxed under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, or FIRPTA, at the rate of tax, including any applicable capital gains rates, that would apply to a U.S. stockholder of the same type (e.g., an individual or a corporation, as the case may be), and the collection of the tax will be enforced by a withholding at a rate of 10% of the amount by which the distribution exceeds the stockholder's share of our earnings and profits.

        Capital gain dividends.    Under FIRPTA, a distribution that we make to a non-U.S. stockholder, to the extent attributable to gains from dispositions of USRPIs that we held directly or through pass-through subsidiaries, or USRPI capital gains, will, except as described below, be considered effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. stockholder and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. stockholders, without regard to whether we designate the distribution as a capital gain dividend. See above under "—Taxation of non-U.S. stockholders—Ordinary dividends," for a discussion of the consequences of income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. In addition, we will be required to withhold tax equal to 35% of the maximum amount that could have been designated as USRPI capital gains dividends. Distributions subject to FIRPTA may also be subject to a 30% branch profits tax in the hands of a non-U.S. stockholder that is a corporation.

        A distribution is not attributable to USRPI capital gain if we held an interest in the underlying asset solely as a creditor, although the holding of a shared appreciation mortgage loan would not be solely as a creditor. Capital gain dividends received by a non-U.S. stockholder that are attributable to dispositions of our assets other than USRPIs are not subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax, unless (1) the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. stockholder's U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. stockholder would be subject to the same treatment as U.S. stockholders with respect to such gain, or (2) the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a "tax home" in the United States, in which case the non-U.S. stockholder will incur a 30% tax on his capital gains. We do not expect that a significant portion of our assets will be USRPIs.

        A capital gain dividend that would otherwise have been treated as a USRPI capital gain will not be so treated or be subject to FIRPTA, and generally will not be treated as income that is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business, and instead will be treated in the same manner as an ordinary dividend (see "—Taxation of non-U.S. stockholders—Ordinary dividends"), if (1) the capital gain dividend is received with respect to a class of stock that is regularly traded on an established securities market located in the United States, and (2) the recipient non-U.S. stockholder is not treated for U.S. federal income taxes purposes as owning more than 5% of that class of stock at any time during the

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year ending on the date on which the capital gain dividend is received. Our common stock is traded on the NYSE. We believe that our common stock currently is treated as "regularly traded" on an established securities market, but no assurance can be given as to the current or future treatment of our stock as "regularly traded" on an established securities market.

        Dispositions of Five Oaks Investment Corp. stock.    Unless our stock constitutes a USRPI, a sale of our stock by a non-U.S. stockholder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation under FIRPTA. Our stock will be treated as a USRPI if 50% or more of our assets throughout a prescribed testing period consist of interests in real property located within the United States, excluding, for this purpose, interests in real property solely in a capacity as a creditor. We believe our stock is not currently a USRPI and it is not currently anticipated that our stock will constitute a USRPI in the future. However, we cannot assure you that our stock will not become a USRPI in the future.

        Even if the foregoing 50% test is met, our stock will not constitute a USRPI if we are a "domestically controlled qualified investment entity." A domestically controlled qualified investment entity includes a REIT, if less than 50% of value of its outstanding shares of stock is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. stockholders at all times during a specified testing period. We believe that we currently are a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, that immediately following the offering we should continue to be a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, and that a sale of our stock should not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. However, because XL Investments has warrants to purchase additional shares and because our stock is widely held, no assurance can be given that we will be or will remain a domestically controlled qualified investment entity.

        In the event that we are not a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, but any class of our stock is "regularly traded," as defined by applicable U.S. Treasury Department regulations, on an established securities market, a non-U.S. stockholder's sale of our stock of such class nonetheless also would not be subject to tax under FIRPTA as a sale of a USRPI, provided that the selling non-U.S. stockholder owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of our outstanding stock of such class at all times during the one-year period ending on the date of the sale. As noted above, we believe that our common stock currently is treated as "regularly traded" on an established securities market.

        If gain on the sale of our stock were subject to taxation under FIRPTA, the non-U.S. stockholder would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return and would be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. stockholder with respect to such gain, subject to applicable alternative minimum tax and a special alternative minimum tax in the case of non-resident alien individuals, and the purchaser of the stock could be required to withhold 10% of the purchase price and remit such amount to the IRS.

        Gain from the sale of our stock that would not otherwise be subject to FIRPTA will nonetheless be taxable in the United States to a non-U.S. stockholder in two cases: (1) if the non-U.S. stockholder's investment in our stock is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such non-U.S. stockholder, the non-U.S. stockholder will be subject to the same treatment as a U.S. stockholder with respect to such gain, or (2) if the non-U.S. stockholder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year and has a "tax home" in the United States, the nonresident alien individual will be subject to a 30% tax on the individual's capital gain. In addition, even if we are a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, upon disposition of our stock (subject to the 5% exception applicable to "regularly traded" stock described above), a non-U.S. stockholder may be treated as having gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI if the non-U.S. stockholder (1) disposes of our stock within a 30-day period preceding the ex-dividend date of a distribution, any portion of which, but for the disposition, would have been treated as gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI and (2) acquires, or enters into a contract or option to acquire, other shares of our stock within 30 days after such ex-dividend date.

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        Estate tax.    If our stock is owned or treated as owned by an individual who is not a citizen or resident (as specially defined for U.S. federal estate tax purposes) of the United States at the time of such individual's death, our stock will be includable in the individual's gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise, and may therefore be subject to U.S. federal estate tax.

        Non-U.S. stockholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax consequences of owning Five Oaks Investment Corp. stock.

Taxation of tax-exempt U.S. stockholders

        U.S. tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit sharing trusts and individual retirement accounts, generally are exempt from U.S. federal income taxation. However, they may be subject to taxation on their unrelated business taxable income as defined under Section 512(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or UBTI. While some investments in real estate may generate UBTI, the IRS has ruled that dividend distributions from a REIT to a tax-exempt entity do not constitute UBTI. Based on that ruling, and provided that (1) a tax-exempt U.S. stockholder has not held our stock as "debt financed property" within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code (i.e., where the acquisition or holding of the property is financed through a borrowing by the tax-exempt U.S. stockholder), (2) our stock is not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business, and (3) we do not hold an asset that gives rise to excess inclusion income, distributions that we make and income from the sale of our stock generally should not give rise to UBTI to a tax-exempt U.S. stockholder.

        As previously noted, we may engage in transactions that may result in a portion of our dividend income being considered "excess inclusion income," and accordingly, a portion of our dividends received by a tax-exempt U.S. stockholder may be treated as UBTI.

        Tax-exempt U.S. stockholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services plans exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (c)(9), (c)(17) and (c)(20) of the Internal Revenue Code are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally require such stockholders to characterize distributions that we make as UBTI, unless they are able to properly exclude certain amounts set aside or placed in reserve for specific purposes. These prospective investors should consult their tax advisors concerning these "set aside" and reserve requirements.

        In certain circumstances, a pension trust (1) that is described in Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, (2) is tax exempt under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and (3) that owns more than 10% of our stock could be required to treat a percentage of the dividends from us as UBTI if we are a "pension-held REIT." We will not be a pension-held REIT unless (1) we are required to "look through" one or more of our pension trust stockholders in order to satisfy the REIT "closely-held" test, and (2) either (a) one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of our stock, or (b) one or more pension trusts, each individually holding more than 10% of the value of our stock, collectively owns more than 50% of the value of our stock. Certain restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock generally should prevent a tax-exempt entity from owning more than 10% of the value of our stock and generally should prevent us from becoming a pension-held REIT.

        Tax-exempt U.S. stockholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax consequences of owning Five Oaks Investment Corp. stock.

Backup withholding and information reporting

        The applicable withholding agents will report to our U.S. stockholders and the IRS the amount of dividends paid during each calendar year and the amount of any tax withheld. Under the backup

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withholding rules, a U.S. stockholder may be subject to backup withholding with respect to dividends paid unless the holder comes within an exempt category and, when required, demonstrates this fact or provides a taxpayer identification number or social security number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. A U.S. stockholder that does not provide his or her correct taxpayer identification number or social security number may also be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. In addition, the applicable withholding agent may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to any U.S. stockholder who fails to certify its U.S. status.

        The applicable withholding agent must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. stockholder the amount of dividends paid to such holder and the tax withheld with respect to such dividends, regardless of whether withholding was required. Copies of the information returns reporting such dividends and withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. stockholder resides under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. A non-U.S. stockholder may be subject to backup withholding unless applicable certification requirements are met.

        Payment of the proceeds of a sale of our stock within the United States is subject to both backup withholding and information reporting unless the beneficial owner certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and the payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the beneficial owner is a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Payment of the proceeds of a sale of our stock conducted through certain U.S. related financial intermediaries is subject to information reporting (but not backup withholding) unless the financial intermediary has documentary evidence in its records that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes and specified conditions are met or an exemption is otherwise established.

        Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against such holder's U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Other Tax Considerations

Legislative or other actions affecting REITs

        The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of REITs may be modified, possibly with retroactive effect, by legislative, judicial or administrative action at any time. The REIT rules are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department which may result in statutory changes as well as revisions to regulations and interpretations. Changes to the U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect an investment in our stock.

Medicare 3.8% tax on investment income

        Under recently enacted legislation, certain U.S. stockholders who are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be required to pay a 3.8% Medicare tax on dividends and certain other investment income, including capital gains from the sale or other disposition of our stock.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

        Recently enacted legislation and guidance from the IRS will generally require, after June 30, 2014, withholding at a rate of 30% on dividends in respect of, and, after December 31, 2016, gross proceeds from the sale of, our stock held by or through certain non-U.S. financial institutions (including investment funds), unless such institution either (i) enters into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury

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Department to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to shares in the institution held by certain U.S. persons and by certain non-U.S. entities that are wholly or partially owned by U.S. persons and to withhold on certain payments or (ii) operates in a jurisdiction that has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department requiring similar reporting to such jurisdiction or to the U.S. Treasury Department and complies with such agreement. Accordingly, the entity through which our stock is held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, dividends in respect of, and gross proceeds from the sale of, our stock held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S. entity will generally be subject to withholding at a rate of 30%, unless such entity either (1) certifies to us that such entity does not have any "substantial United States owners" or (2) provides certain information regarding the entity's "substantial United States owners," which we will in turn provide to the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department. We will not pay any additional amounts to stockholders in respect of any amounts withheld. Prospective stockholders are encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of the legislation on their investment in our stock.

State, local and non-U.S. taxes

        We and our subsidiaries and stockholders may be subject to state, local or non-U.S. taxation in various jurisdictions including those in which we or they transact business, own property or reside. Our state, local or non-U.S. tax treatment and that of our stockholders may not conform to the U.S. federal income tax treatment discussed above. Any non-U.S. taxes that we incur do not pass through to stockholders as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the application and effect of state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax laws on an investment in our stock.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, including without limitation:

•

directly to purchasers;



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"at-the-market" offerings, within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise;



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through agents;



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to or through underwriters or dealers; or



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through a combination of these methods.

        In addition, the manner in which we may sell some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus includes, without limitation, through:

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a block trade in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell as agent, but may position or resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction;



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purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;



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ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers; or



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privately negotiated transactions.

        We may also enter into hedging transactions. For example, we may:

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enter into transactions with a broker-dealer or affiliate thereof in connection with which such broker-dealer or affiliate will engage in short sales of securities pursuant to this prospectus, in

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which case such broker-dealer or affiliate may use common stock received from us to close out its short positions;

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sell securities short and redeliver such securities to close out our short positions;



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enter into option or other types of transactions that require us to deliver common stock to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who will then resell or transfer the common stock under this prospectus; or



•

loan or pledge the common stock to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who may sell the loaned shares or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged shares pursuant to this prospectus.

        In addition, we may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

        A prospectus supplement with respect to each series of securities will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

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the name or names of any underwriters or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them, if any;



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the public offering price or purchase price of the securities and the net proceeds to be received by us from the sale;



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any delayed delivery arrangements;



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any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters' or agents' compensation;



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any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and



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any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed.

        The offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by us, the underwriters, or the third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including privately negotiated transactions, either:

•

at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;



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at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;



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at prices related to the prevailing market prices; or



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at negotiated prices.

General

        Any public offering price and any discounts, commissions, concessions or other items constituting compensation allowed or reallowed or paid to underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms may be changed from time to time. Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms that participate in

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the distribution of the offered securities may be "underwriters" as defined in the Securities Act. Any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profits they receive on the resale of the offered securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify any underwriters, agents or dealers and describe their commissions, fees or discounts in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

At-the-Market Offerings

        If we reach an agreement with an underwriter on a placement, including the number of shares of common stock to be offered in the placement and any minimum price below which sales may not be made, such underwriter would agree to use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, to try to sell such shares on such terms. Underwriters could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an "at-the-market" offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, sales made directly on the NYSE, the existing trading market for our common stock, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange. The name of any such underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of our common stock, the amounts underwritten, and the nature of its obligations to take our common stock will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Underwriters and Agents

        If underwriters are used in a sale, they will acquire the offered securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the offered securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. These sales may be made at a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale, at prices related to such prevailing market price or at negotiated prices. We may offer the securities to the public through an underwriting syndicate or through a single underwriter. The underwriters in any particular offering will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

        Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to certain conditions contained in an underwriting agreement that we will enter into with the underwriters at the time of the sale to them. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased, unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities. Any initial offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed, reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

        We may designate agents to sell the offered securities. Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities, the agents will agree to use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. We may also sell the offered securities to one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These firms will remarket the offered securities upon purchasing them in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to the terms of the offered securities. A prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be, will identify any remarketing firm and will describe the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation.

        In connection with offerings made through underwriters or agents, we may enter into agreements with such underwriters or agents pursuant to which we receive our outstanding securities in consideration for the securities being offered to the public for cash. In connection with these arrangements, the underwriters or agents may also sell securities covered by this prospectus to hedge their positions in these outstanding securities, including in short sale transactions. If so, the underwriters or agents may use the securities received from us under these arrangements to close out any related open borrowings of securities.

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Dealers

        We may sell the offered securities to dealers as principals. We may negotiate and pay dealers' commissions, discounts or concessions for their services. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public either at varying prices to be determined by the dealer or at a fixed offering price agreed to with us at the time of resale. Dealers engaged by us may allow other dealers to participate in resales.

Direct Sales

        We may choose to sell the offered securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved.

Institutional Purchasers

        We may authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit certain institutional investors to purchase offered securities on a delayed delivery basis pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified future date. The applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be will provide the details of any such arrangement, including the offering price and commissions payable on the solicitations.

        We will enter into such delayed contracts only with institutional purchasers that we approve. These institutions may include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions.

Indemnification; Other Relationships

        We may have agreements with agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business. This includes commercial banking and investment banking transactions.

Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions

        Currently, there is only a market for shares of our common stock and Series A Preferred Stock, which are both listed on the NYSE. If the offered securities are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. While it is possible that an underwriter could inform us that it intended to make a market in the offered securities, such underwriter would not be obligated to do so, and any such market making could be discontinued at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to whether an active trading market will develop for the offered securities. We have no current plans for listing of the offered securities (other than the common stock) on any securities exchange; any such listing with respect to any particular securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

        In connection with any offering of common stock, the underwriters may purchase and sell common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve syndicate sales of common stock in excess of the number of shares to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. "Covered" short sales are sales of shares made in an amount up to the number of shares represented by the underwriters' over-allotment option. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered syndicate short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. Transactions to close out the covered syndicate

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short involve either purchases of the common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed or the exercise of the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also make "naked" short sales of shares in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing common stock in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids for or purchases of shares in the open market while the offering is in progress for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities.

        In connection with any offering, the underwriters may also engage in penalty bids. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.

Fees and Commissions

        In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be; however, it is anticipated that the maximum commission or discount to be received in any particular offering of securities will be significantly less than this amount.

CERTAIN LEGAL MATTERS

        Certain legal matters relating to this offering will be passed upon for us by Kaye Scholer LLP, New York, New York. Certain matters of Maryland law relating to this offering will be passed upon for us by Foley & Lardner LLP.

EXPERTS

        The financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any documents filed by us at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public through the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Wherever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other documents of ours, the reference is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC's public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov .

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        Our Internet address is www.fiveoaksinvestment.com. We make available free of charge, on or through the "Investor Relations—SEC Filings" section of our website, quarterly reports on 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Information on our website is not part of this prospectus.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF INFORMATION FILED WITH THE SEC

        The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this prospectus which has been previously filed, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except for any information superseded by information included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We have filed the documents listed below with the SEC (File No. 001-35845) under the Exchange Act and these documents, along with our future filing (other than information furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 in Current Reports on Form 8-K), are incorporated herein by reference until the offerings are completed:

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, filed March 12, 2014, and the portions of the Company's proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the Company's annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 17, 2014, that are incorporated therein;



•

our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 26, 2014; and



•

the description of our common stock included in our registration statement on Form 8-A (filed March 19, 2013).

        All documents we file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities to which this prospectus relates (other than information in such documents that is furnished and not deemed to be filed) shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of those documents. All documents we file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement that contains this prospectus and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing those documents.

        We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus (other than the exhibits to such documents which are not specifically incorporated by reference herein); we will provide this information at no cost to the requester upon written or oral request to Five Oaks Investment Corp., 540 Madison Avenue, 19^th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: Corporate Secretary; telephone number (212) 257-5070. You may also obtain copies of this information by visiting our website at www.fiveoaksinvestment.com. Information on our website is not part of this prospectus.

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3,500,000 Shares

Common Stock

June 19, 2014

Prospectus Supplement

JMP Securities LLC

Ladenburg Thalmann

Mitsubishi UFJ Securities

   

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