Securitization Transactions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Securitization Transactions [Abstract]

Securitization Transactions [Table Text Block]

The following table details the Company’s investments in notes issued by the Ellington-sponsored CLO Securitizations:

CLO Issuer⁽¹⁾

CLO Pricing Date

CLO Closing Date

Total Face Amount of Notes Issued

Face Amount of Notes Initially Purchased

Aggregate Purchase Price

Notes Held⁽²⁾ as of

December 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

(In thousands)

CLO I Issuer⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾

5/17

6/17

373,550

36,606

⁽⁵⁾

35,926

—

24,299

⁽⁶⁾

CLO I Issuer⁽⁴⁾

8/18

461,840

36,579

⁽⁵⁾

25,622

16,973

⁽⁶⁾

—

CLO II Issuer

12/17

1/18

452,800

18,223

⁽⁷⁾

16,621

14,721

⁽⁶⁾

13,395

⁽⁶⁾

CLO III Issuer

6/18

7/18

407,100

35,480

⁽⁷⁾

32,394

19,071

⁽⁸⁾

—


(1)	The Company does not have the power to direct the activities of the CLO Issuers that most significantly impact their economic performance.


(2)	Included on the Company's Consolidated Condensed Schedule of Investments in Collateralized Loan Obligations.


(3)	Excludes the Company's equity investment in the CLO I Risk Retention Vehicle, as discussed above.


(4)	In August 2018, the notes originally issued by the CLO I Issuer in 2017 were fully redeemed, and the CLO I Issuer simultaneously issued new notes in conjunction with this full redemption.


(5)	The Company purchased secured and unsecured subordinated notes.


(6)	Includes secured and unsecured subordinated notes.


(7)	The Company purchased secured senior and secured and unsecured subordinated notes.


(8)	Includes secured senior and secured and unsecured subordinated notes.

Schedule of Residential Loan Securitizations [Table Text Block]

The following table details the residential mortgage loan securitizations:



Issuing Entity	Closing Date	Principal Balance of Loans Transferred to the Depositor		Total Face Amount of Certificates Issued
		(In thousands)
Ellington Financial Mortgage Trust 2017-1	11/15/2017	$	141,233	$	141,233	⁽¹⁾
Ellington Financial Mortgage Trust 2018-1	11/13/2018	232,518		232,518		⁽²⁾

(1)

In order to comply with the Risk Retention Rules, the Sponsor purchased the two most subordinated classes of Certificates and the excess cash flow certificates, with an aggregate value equal to 5.1% of the fair value of all Certificates issued. The Sponsor also purchased, for an aggregate purchase price of $0.7 million, the Certificates entitled to excess servicing fees, while the remaining classes of Certificates were purchased by unrelated third parties.

(2)

In order to comply with the Risk Retention Rules, the Sponsor purchased the two most subordinated classes of Certificates and the excess cash flow certificates, with an aggregate value equal to 5.7% of the fair value of all Certificates issued. The Sponsor also purchased, for an aggregate purchase price of $1.3 million, the Certificates entitled to excess servicing fees, while the remaining classes of Certificates were purchased by unrelated third parties.

Schedule of Assets and Liabilities of Consolidated Securitization Trusts [Table Text Block]

The following table details the assets and liabilities of the consolidated securitization trusts included in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Equity as of December 31, 2018 and 2017:



	As of
(In thousands)	December 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	—	$	333
Investments, at fair value	314,202		132,424
Interest and dividends receivable	3,527		—
Liabilities:
Interest and dividends payable	103		333
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	297,948		125,105