8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  July 28, 2017

MFA FINANCIAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	1-13991	13-3974868
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer
of incorporation		Identification No.)
or organization)

350 Park Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York	10022
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 207-6400

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o

Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(c) On July 28, 2017, the Board of Directors of MFA Financial, Inc. (the “Company”) announced the appointment, effective immediately, of Craig L. Knutson, age 57, as Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company in order to allow William S. Gorin, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, to focus on his ongoing treatment for cancer.  Mr. Knutson has been MFA’s president and chief operating officer since January 2014 and prior thereto was an executive vice president of the Company from 2008 to 2013.

*****

A copy of the press release reporting on Mr. Knutson’s appointment is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)	Exhibits
99.1	Press release, dated July 31, 2017, of MFA Financial, Inc.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	MFA FINANCIAL, INC.
	(REGISTRANT)
	By:	/s/ Harold E. Schwartz
		Name:	Harold E. Schwartz
		Title:	Senior Vice President and
			General Counsel
Date: July 31, 2017

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release, dated July 31, 2017, of MFA Financial, Inc.

4

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

MFA Financial, Inc. Appoints Craig L. Knutson as Co-Chief Executive Officer

-Current MFA President and COO to Oversee Company Alongside CEO William S. Gorin-

NEW YORK, July 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:  MFA) today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Craig L. Knutson as the Company’s co-Chief Executive Officer. A nine-year veteran of MFA and currently the firm’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Knutson will provide additional leadership atop the Company while working alongside current Chief Executive Officer William S. Gorin, allowing Mr. Gorin to focus on his ongoing treatment for cancer.

“We are very pleased to appoint Craig to the position of co-CEO,” said George Krauss, Chairman of the Board of MFA Financial. “We are very fortunate that Bill has helped develop such a strong and deep management team, led by Craig, who for nearly a decade now has helped grow our business while pushing it into new and profitable residential mortgage investments. As a Board we are incredibly supportive of Bill as he focuses on his health and have complete confidence in the strong management team at MFA. Our team is well-positioned to continue to implement MFA’s strategy and deliver strong results for our stockholders.”

“Since joining the firm in 2008, I have worked closely with Bill on developing and implementing all aspects of our business, and that will not change,” said Mr. Knutson. “Bill has established a strong strategic framework for the firm, and I look forward to continuing to work with him and the senior management team.”

About MFA Financial, Inc.

MFA is a real estate investment trust primarily engaged in the business of investing, on a leveraged basis, in residential mortgage assets, including residential mortgage-backed securities and residential whole loans.

Investor Contact:

MFA Investor Relations

212-207-6488

www.mfafinancial.com

Media Contact:

Tom Johnson

Abernathy MacGregor

(212) 371-5999