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):  August 16, 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) and (d)  On August 16, 2017, the Board of Directors of MFA Financial, Inc. (the “Company”) elected Craig L. Knutson as sole Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective as of such date.

Mr. Knutson, 58, who had served as Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company since July 28, 2017, will also continue as President of the Company (a post that he has held since January 2014).  Mr. Knutson joined the Company in 2008 as an executive vice president and served in that capacity until the end of 2013.

In addition, on August 16, 2017, the Board of Directors of the Company elected Mr. Knutson as a director of the Company, effective as of such date, to fill the vacancy created by the passing of William S. Gorin.

A copy of the press release reporting on Mr. Knutson’s election as sole Chief Executive Officer and director is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01              Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)           Exhibits

99.1Press Release, dated August 17, 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: August 17, 2017

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release, dated August 17, 2017, of MFA Financial, Inc.

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

MFA FINANCIAL, INC.
350 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 207-6400

PRESS RELEASE		FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2017		NEW YORK METRO
Investor Contact:	MFA Investor Relations	NYSE: MFA
	212-207-6488
	www.mfafinancial.com

MFA Financial, Inc.

Announces Appointment of Craig L. Knutson as Sole CEO

and to Board of Directors

NEW YORK — MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:  MFA) announced today that its Board of Directors has elected Craig L. Knutson as sole Chief Executive Officer and a director of MFA to fill the vacancy created by the passing of William S. Gorin earlier this month.  Mr. Knutson had served as MFA’s Co-Chief Executive Officer since late July 2017.

Mr. Knutson, 58, who has also been President and Chief Operating Officer of MFA since January 2014, will continue in his role as President.  Mr. Knutson joined MFA in 2008 as an executive vice president and served in that capacity until the end of 2013.

MFA Financial, Inc. 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.