11. EQUITY

Stock and Stock Equivalents

Authorized Capital

As of December 31, 2017, we had the authority to issue up to 300,000,000 shares of stock, consisting of 200,000,000 shares of class A common stock and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Subject to applicable NYSE listing requirements, our board of directors is authorized to cause us to issue additional shares of authorized stock without stockholder approval. In addition, to the extent not issued, currently authorized stock may be reclassified between class A common stock and preferred stock. We did not have any shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017.

Class A Common Stock and Deferred Stock Units

Holders of shares of our class A common stock are entitled to vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and are entitled to receive such dividends as may be authorized by our board of directors and declared by us, in all cases subject to the rights of the holders of shares of outstanding preferred stock, if any.

The following table details our issuance of class A common stock during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 ($ in thousands, except share and per share data):


	Class A Common Stock Offerings
	2017		2016		2015⁽¹⁾
Shares issued		12,420,000		—		34,780,025
Share issue price⁽²⁾	$	31.57	$	—	$	29.64
Net proceeds⁽³⁾	$	391,558	$	—	$	1,029,535

(1)

Consists of 23.0 million shares issued in April 2015, 11.5 million shares issued in June 2015, and 280,025 shares issued over a five-day period in May 2015 under our at-the-market program. Share issue price reflects the weighted-average of such stock offerings.

(2)

Represents price per share paid by the underwriters or sales agents, as applicable.

(3)

Net proceeds represents proceeds received from the underwriters less applicable transaction costs.

We also issue restricted class A common stock under our stock-based incentive plans. Refer to Note 14 for additional discussion of these long-term incentive plans. In addition to our class A common stock, we also issue deferred stock units to certain members of our board of directors in lieu of cash compensation for services rendered. These deferred stock units are non-voting, but carry the right to receive dividends in the form of additional deferred stock units in an amount equivalent to the cash dividends paid to holders of shares of class A common stock.

The following table details the movement in our outstanding shares of class A common stock, including restricted class A common stock and deferred stock units:


	Year Ended December 31,
Common Stock Outstanding⁽¹⁾	2017		2016		2015
Beginning balance		94,709,290		93,843,847		58,388,808
Issuance of class A common stock⁽²⁾		12,421,401		1,070		34,780,622
Issuance of restricted class A common stock, net		922,196		836,867		651,815
Issuance of deferred stock units		28,190		27,506		22,602

Ending balance		108,081,077		94,709,290		93,843,847

(1)

Includes deferred stock units held by members of our board of directors of 197,217, 169,027, and 141,521, as of December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

(2)

Includes 1,401, 1,070, and 597 shares issued under our dividend reinvestment program during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.

Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan

On March 25, 2014, we adopted a dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan, under which we registered and reserved for issuance, in the aggregate, 10,000,000 shares of class A common stock. Under the dividend reinvestment component of this plan, our class A common stockholders can designate all or a portion of their cash dividends to be reinvested in additional shares of class A common stock. The direct stock purchase component allows stockholders and new investors, subject to our approval, to purchase shares of class A common stock directly from us. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 we issued 1,401 shares, 1,070 shares, and 597 shares, respectively, of class A common stock under the dividend reinvestment component of the plan. As of December 31, 2017, a total of 9,996,926 shares of class A common stock remained available for issuance under the dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan.

At the Market Stock Offering Program

On May 9, 2014, we entered into equity distribution agreements, or ATM Agreements, pursuant to which we may sell, from time to time, up to an aggregate sales price of $200.0 million of our class A common stock. On July 29, 2016, in connection with filing a new universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3, we entered into amendments to each of the ATM Agreements. Sales of class A common stock made pursuant to the ATM Agreements may be made in negotiated transactions or transactions that are deemed to be “at the market” offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Actual sales will depend on a variety of factors including market conditions, the trading price of our class A common stock, our capital needs, and our determination of the appropriate sources of funding to meet such needs. We did not sell any shares of our class A common stock under the ATM Agreements during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. As of December 31, 2017, sales of our class A common stock with an aggregate sales price of $188.6 million remained available for issuance under the ATM Agreements.

Dividends

We generally intend to distribute substantially all of our taxable income, which does not necessarily equal net income as calculated in accordance with GAAP, to our stockholders each year to comply with the REIT provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Our dividend policy remains subject to revision at the discretion of our board of directors. All distributions will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon our taxable income, our financial condition, our maintenance of REIT status, applicable law, and other factors as our board of directors deems relevant.

On December 14, 2017, we declared a dividend of $0.62 per share, or $66.9 million, that was paid on January 16, 2018, to stockholders of record as of December 29, 2017. The following table details our dividend activity ($ in thousands, except per share data):


	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Dividends declared per share of common stock	$	2.48		$	2.48		$	2.28
Percent taxable as ordinary dividends		97.20	%		92.77	%		92.36	%
Percent taxable as capital gain dividends		2.80	%		7.23	%		7.64	%

		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

Earnings Per Share

We calculate our basic and diluted earnings per share using the two-class method for all periods presented, as the unvested shares of our restricted class A common stock qualify as participating securities, as defined by GAAP. These restricted shares have the same rights as our other shares of class A common stock, including participating in any dividends, and therefore have been included in our basic and diluted net income per share calculation. Our Convertible Notes are excluded from dilutive earnings per share as we have the intent and ability to settle these instruments in cash.

The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted net income per share of class A common stock based on the weighted-average of both restricted and unrestricted class A common stock outstanding ($ in thousands, except per share data):


	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Net income⁽¹⁾	$	217,631	$	238,297	$	196,829
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted		95,963,616		94,165,351		81,740,227

Per share amount, basic and diluted	$	2.27	$	2.53	$	2.41

(1)	Represents net income attributable to Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc.

Other Balance Sheet Items

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

As of December 31, 2017, total accumulated other comprehensive loss was $29.7 million, primarily representing (i) $60.3 million of cumulative unrealized currency translation adjustments on assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and (ii) an offsetting $30.6 million of net realized and unrealized gains related to changes in the fair value of derivative instruments. As of December 31, 2016, total accumulated other comprehensive loss was $56.2 million, primarily representing (i) $107.5 million of cumulative unrealized currency translation adjustments on assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and (ii) an offsetting $51.3 million of net realized and unrealized gains related to changes in the fair value of derivative instruments.

Non-Controlling Interests

The non-controlling interests included on our consolidated balance sheets represent the equity interests in our Multifamily Joint Venture that are not owned by us. A portion of our Multifamily Joint Venture’s consolidated equity and results of operations are allocated to these non-controlling interests based on their pro rata ownership of our Multifamily Joint Venture. As of December 31, 2017, our Multifamily Joint Venture’s total equity was $42.3 million, of which $36.0 million was owned by us, and $6.3 million was allocated to non-controlling interests. As of December 31, 2016, we did not have any non-controlling interests on our consolidated financial statements.