Edgar Filing: American Capital Agency Corp

AGNC DRIP-DSPP S-3ASR

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 2013

Registration No. 333-

United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

______________________________

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

______________________________

American Capital Agency Corp.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)




Delaware		26-1701984
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

American Capital Agency Corp.

2 Bethesda Metro Center, 14th Floor

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

(301) 968-9300

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

______________________________

Samuel A. Flax, Esq.

Executive Vice President and Secretary

American Capital Agency Corp.

2 Bethesda Metro Center, 14th Floor

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

(301) 968-9300

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

______________________________

Copy to:

David J. Goldschmidt, Esq.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Four Times Square

New York, New York 10036

(212) 735-3000

______________________________

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ý

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ý

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. (Check One):

Large accelerated filer ý Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨




Title of each class of securities to be registered	Amount to be registered (1)	Proposed maximum offering price per unit	Proposed maximum aggregate offering price	Amount of registration fee
Common Stock ($0.01 par value)	16,999,873	$28.69 (2)	$487,726,356.37 (2)	$66,525.88
Common Stock ($0.01 par value)	4,740,127	N/A	N/A	(3)

______________


(1)	Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, the shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares of common stock being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.


(2)	Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act based on the average of the high and low sales prices of the common stock as reported on The NASDAQ Global Select Market as of May 15, 2013.

(3)

These securities represent a portion of the 13,000,000 shares of common stock previously registered on Registration Statement No. 333-166199, which was filed on April 20, 2010, subsequently amended, and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 19, 2010. The registration fee for these securities was paid and is transferred and carried forward to this registration statement pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act with respect to 4,740,127 shares of common stock that remain unsold under such earlier Registration Statement.

Amended and Restated Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan

21,740,000 shares of Common Stock

__________________________________________________

This prospectus relates to 21,740,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“common stock”), of American Capital Agency Corp. registered for purchase under the American Capital Agency Corp. Amended and Restated Dividend Reinvestment and Direct Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”).

The Plan provides our stockholders with a simple and convenient method of reinvesting cash dividends and distributions and purchasing shares of our common stock. By participating in the Plan, you may purchase shares of our common stock by reinvesting some or all of the cash dividends and distributions that you receive on your shares of our common stock. You may also make optional cash purchases of shares of our common stock of between $50 and $10,000 per month and, with our prior approval, in excess of $10,000 per month. Highlights of the Plan include:


•	Any registered stockholder may elect to participate in the Plan.


•	Interested prospective investors who are not currently holders of our common stock may make their initial purchase through the Plan, subject to a minimum purchase of $250.


•	Up to a 5% discount on shares of our common stock purchased under the Plan for purchases, with our prior approval, in excess of $10,000 per month.


•	Optional full or partial dividend reinvestment options.


•	Optional cash purchases of between $50 and $10,000 per month and, with our prior approval, in excess of $10,000 per month.


•	Certificate safekeeping in book-entry form available at no charge to participants.


•	Detailed record keeping and reporting will be provided at no charge to participants.


•	Optional automatic investment withdrawals from your bank account.

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “AGNC.” As of May 16, 2013, the last reported sales price for our common stock was $29.52 per share. We suggest that you retain this prospectus for future reference.

Investing in our common stock involves significant risks. You should carefully consider these risks together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus before making a decision to purchase our common stock. See the sections entitled “Risk Factors” on page 1 of this prospectus and in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or other periodic reports filed by us updating such disclosure.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this Prospectus is May 17, 2013.

TABLE OF CONTENTS



	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	ii

THE COMPANY	1

RISK FACTORS	1

USE OF PROCEEDS	1

AMENDED AND RESTATED DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND DIRECT STOCK PURCHASE PLAN	2

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK	12

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS	16

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	31

LEGAL MATTERS	31

EXPERTS	31

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	31

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE	32

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. This prospectus provides you with a general description of our common stock. This prospectus includes or incorporates by reference all material information relating to an offering. Please carefully read this prospectus together with the additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Except where the context suggests otherwise, in this prospectus “we,” “us,” “our,” “AGNC” and “the Company” refer to American Capital Agency Corp., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries; “our Manager” refers to American Capital AGNC Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and “American Capital” refers to American Capital, Ltd., a Delaware corporation.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, the common stock offered by such document in any jurisdiction to or from any person to whom or from whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation of an offer in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the respective dates of such documents. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any distribution of common stock pursuant to such document shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the information set forth in this prospectus or in our affairs since the date of this prospectus.

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to have been filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or prospectus summary may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “plans,” “anticipate,” “estimate” or “continue” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. The matters described throughout this prospectus and in any exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, constitute cautionary statements identifying important factors with respect to any such forward-looking statements, including certain risks and uncertainties, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements.

THE COMPANY

We earn income primarily from investing on a leveraged basis in agency mortgage-backed securities. These investments consist of residential mortgage pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by government sponsored entities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or Freddie Mac or by a U.S. Government agency such as the Government National Mortgage Association, or Ginnie Mae. We may also invest in agency debenture securities issued by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or the Federal Home Loan Bank. We refer to agency mortgage-backed securities and agency debenture securities collectively as “agency securities” and we refer to the specific investment securities in which we invest as our “investment portfolio.”

We have elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Internal Revenue Code. As long as we qualify as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to federal income taxes on our taxable income to the extent that we annually distribute all of our taxable income to stockholders.

We are externally managed by American Capital AGNC Management, LLC, which we refer to as our Manager. Our Manager is an indirect subsidiary of a wholly-owned portfolio company of American Capital, Ltd., or American Capital, an investment company and alternative asset manager that is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “ACAS.” Because we have no employees, our Manager is responsible for administering our business activities and day-to-day operations, subject to the supervision of our Board of Directors.

Our principal objective is to preserve our net book value while generating attractive risk-adjusted returns for distribution to our stockholders through regular quarterly dividends from the combination of our net interest income and net realized gains and losses on our investments and hedging activities. We fund our investments primarily through borrowings structured as repurchase agreements.

We are a Delaware corporation formed on January 7, 2008. We commenced operations on May 20, 2008 upon completion of our initial public offering. Our principal place of business is located at 2 Bethesda Metro Center, 14th Floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, and our telephone number is (301) 968-9300. We maintain a website that can be accessed at http://www.AGNC.com. The information found on, or otherwise accessible through, our website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this prospectus or any other report or document we file with or furnish to SEC.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q (which descriptions are incorporated by reference herein), as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus before making a decision to invest in our common stock. Please also see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” below.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We cannot determine precisely the number of shares of common stock that ultimately may be sold pursuant to the Plan, the extent to which shares will be purchased directly from us rather than in the open market, or the prices at which shares will be sold. The net proceeds from any purchases of common stock directly from us under the Plan would provide us with funds that we would expect to use for general corporate purposes. We will receive no proceeds from any shares of our common stock purchased in open market transactions.

AMENDED AND RESTATED DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND

DIRECT STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

Details of the Plan are set forth below in question and answer format. Further questions and correspondence should be directed to either American Capital Agency Corp. (Attention: Investor Relations) or the plan administrator at the following address:

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 43078

Providence, RI 02940-3078

1-800-733-5001 (U.S and Canada)

1-781-575-2879 (Outside U.S. and Canada)

www.computershare.com/investor

Purpose


1.	What is the purpose of the Plan?

The purpose of the dividend reinvestment component of the Plan is to provide our stockholders with a simple and convenient method of investing cash dividends and distributions in additional shares of our common stock. The optional cash purchase component of the Plan permits current stockholders and new investors to purchase shares of our common stock on a monthly basis in amounts, subject to certain exceptions, ranging from $50 to $10,000 or, with our prior approval, in excess of $10,000 (see Question 15). Participants in the Plan may have cash dividends and distributions automatically reinvested without charges for recordkeeping, and may take advantage of the custodial and reporting services provided by Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the “Plan Administrator” or “Computershare”), at no additional cost. The Plan is intended to benefit long-term investors who want to increase their investment in our common stock over time.


2.	What are the advantages of participating in the Plan?


•	The Plan provides participants with the opportunity to purchase additional shares of common stock, if desired, by automatically reinvesting all or a portion of cash dividends on our common stock in the Plan.


•	The Plan also provides participants with the opportunity to purchase additional shares of common stock directly from us, if desired, by investing additional cash on a monthly basis from $50 to $10,000, or, with our prior approval, in excess of $10,000, with or without enrolling in dividend reinvestment.


•	There are no transaction or processing fees, expenses or service charges on shares of stock purchased under the Plan with reinvested dividends. Participants will, however, pay a transaction and processing fee on purchases made with optional cash payments. See Question 4.


•	Funds invested in the Plan are fully invested through the purchase of fractional shares, as well as whole shares, and proportionate cash dividends on fractional shares are used to purchase additional shares.


•	There is a “share safekeeping” service that allows participants to deposit common stock certificates with the Plan Administrator and have their share ownership maintained on the Plan Administrator’s records as part of the Plan account. There is no charge for this service.


•	Participants will receive statements containing year-to-date information on all Plan transactions in their account within a reasonable time after a transaction occurs, designed to simplify their record keeping.


3.	What are the disadvantages of participating in the Plan?


•	For Federal income tax purposes, participants will be treated as having received dividend income on the dividend payment date; such dividend will generally give rise to a tax liability even though no cash was actually paid. See the section entitled “Federal Income Tax Considerations” below.


•	No interest will be paid by us or the Plan Administrator on dividends held pending reinvestment or on optional cash purchase payments held pending investment. See Question 16.


•	Participants bear the risk of loss and the benefits of gain from market price changes for all of their shares of common stock. NEITHER WE NOR THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR CAN GUARANTEE THAT SHARES OF COMMON

STOCK PURCHASED UNDER THE PLAN WILL, AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME, BE WORTH MORE OR LESS THAN THEIR PURCHASE PRICE.


•	The price of our shares of common stock may fluctuate in the interim between your investment decision and the time of the actual purchase and may decline between the time you decide to sell and the time at which your shares of common stock are actually sold.

•

We may, in our sole discretion and without prior notice to participants, change our determination as to whether shares of our common stock will be purchased by the Plan Administrator directly from us or through market purchases. This determination will be made by us based upon general market conditions, the relationship between purchase price and book value per share, regulatory requirements and other factors.


4.	Is there a cost to participate in the Plan?

We will pay all administrative costs associated with the reinvestment of dividends under the Plan. There are no transaction or processing fees, expenses or service charges under the Plan in connection with such purchases; however, if you enroll in the Plan through a broker, bank or other nominee, they may charge you a fee for participating on your behalf. If the Plan purchases shares with reinvested dividends in market transactions instead of directly from us, we will pay any brokerage fees or commissions on such purchases.

For the optional cash purchase part of the Plan, the Plan Administrator will charge participants a processing fee of $0.05 per share in connection with any optional cash payments made under the Plan. The processing fee includes any brokerage commissions that the Plan Administrator is required to pay. In addition, the Plan Administrator will charge participants a $5 transaction fee for optional cash payments made by check or one-time online ACH, and a $2.50 transaction fee for each optional cash payment made by recurring debit from a U.S. bank account.

Administration


5.	What does the Plan Administrator do?

The Plan Administrator administers the Plan for participants, keeps records, sends statement of accounts to participants, and performs other duties relating to the Plan, including the safekeeping of the shares purchased for each participant. The Plan Administrator also acts as the dividend disbursing agent, transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.

Participation and Enrollment


6.	Who is eligible to participate?

You may participate in the Plan if: (a) you are a “registered holder;” that is, your shares are registered in your name on our stock transfer books, (b) you are a “beneficial owner;” that is, your shares are registered in a name other than your name (for example, in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee) (see Question 8), or (c) you are a new investor.

If you live outside the United States, you should first determine if there are any laws or governmental regulations that would prohibit your participation in the Plan, or affect the terms of the Plan. We have the right to terminate participation of any stockholder if we deem it advisable under any foreign laws or regulations. Tax consequences of Plan participation may vary under foreign laws or regulations, and you should determine the tax treatment of Plan features before you decide to invest through the Plan.

The Plan is intended for the benefit of our investors and not for persons or entities who engage in transactions that cause or are designed to cause aberrations in the price or trading volume of our common stock. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, we reserve the right to exclude from participation in the Plan at any time any persons or entities, as determined in our sole discretion.


7.	How do I enroll in the Plan?

The Plan is an “opt-in” plan. If you are a registered holder of our common stock, you may join the Plan by signing an enrollment form and returning it to the Plan Administrator or by going online to the Plan Administrator’s website, www.computershare.com/investor. If you are enrolling for dividend reinvestment, the enrollment form must be received by the Plan Administrator prior to the dividend record date in order to take effect as of the related dividend payment. A dividend record date is, with respect to any dividend or distribution declared by our Board of Directors, the date set by our Board of Directors for determining stockholders of record entitled to receive the dividend or distribution.

If you are a new investor, that is, you do not currently own shares of our common stock, you may join the Plan in either of the following ways:

(a)

Going to the Plan Administrator’s website at www.computershare.com/investor, and following the instructions provided for opening a Plan account online. You will be asked to complete an Online Initial Enrollment Form and to submit an initial optional cash purchase between $250 and $10,000. To make an initial optional cash purchase you may authorize a one-time online bank debit from your U.S. bank account or you may authorize a minimum of five (5) consecutive monthly automatic deductions of at least $50 each from your U.S. bank account.

(b)

Completing and signing an Initial Enrollment Form and submitting an initial investment in the amount between $250 and $10,000. To make an initial optional cash purchase in this manner, you may enclose a check, payable in U.S. funds and drawn against a U.S. bank, to “Computershare—American Capital Agency Corp.” or you may complete the direct debit authorization form enclosed with the Initial Enrollment Form and authorize a minimum of five consecutive monthly automatic deductions of at least $50 each from your U.S. bank account by following the instructions provided.

If you are enrolling by making an optional cash purchase of less than $10,000, the enrollment form and investment funds must be received by the Plan Administrator at least two (2) business days before the date such funds are to be invested for a particular month (see Question 12). Enrollment forms may be obtained at any time by telephonic, Internet or written request to the Plan Administrator.


8.	How do I enroll in the Plan if I am a beneficial owner?

If you are a beneficial owner, that is your shares are held on the books of the Plan Administrator in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee (a “Nominee”), your distributions will be reinvested automatically by the Nominee in additional shares under the Plan only if your Nominee provides such a service and you elect to participate in the Plan. Many Nominees do not provide such a service and routinely request dividends and distributions to be paid in cash on all shares registered in their names. Therefore, if your shares are held for your account by a Nominee and you would like to participate in the Plan, then, in addition to enrolling in the Plan as provided in Question 7, you must either make appropriate arrangements for your Nominee to participate on your behalf, or you must become a stockholder of record by having a part or all of your shares transferred to your own name. If your shares are held in the name of a Nominee, you should contact the Nominee for details.


9.	How does reinvestment of dividends under the Plan work?

As a participant, when our Board of Directors declares a dividend or distribution, on the distribution date for such dividend or distribution you will have credited to your Plan account the number of whole and fractional shares (computed to six decimal places) that could be obtained, at the price determined in accordance with the answer to Question 18, with the cash, net of any applicable withholding taxes, that would have been paid to you if you were not a participant. Such shares will be acquired by the Plan Administrator for participants either (i) through receipt of newly issued or treasury shares of common stock from us or (ii) by purchase of outstanding shares of common stock on the open market (see Question 17).


10.	What if a stockholder would rather receive cash instead of reinvesting their dividends?

If you would rather receive a cash dividend, you should not enroll in the Plan or, if you are enrolled in the Plan, you must notify the Plan Administrator through the Internet, by telephone or in writing that you would like to terminate your participation in the Plan. You may terminate your participation in the Plan at any time. The procedure for terminating participation in the Plan is explained in the answer to Question 29.


11.	What if a stockholder wishes to receive cash as a dividend on only some of his or her shares?

If participants wish to receive dividends and distributions in cash on some of their shares, and have the remaining dividends and distributions reinvested, the Plan Administrator must be notified to that effect. This may be done by completing and submitting an enrollment form and choosing the “Partial Dividends Paid In Cash” option, by calling the Plan Administrator or by accessing your Plan account at the Plan Administrator’s website, www.computershare.com/investor. A partial participant will receive dividends and distributions in cash only with respect to the number of whole shares that have been specified. On any other shares registered in the participant’s name or other shares credited to their Plan account on the books of the Plan Administrator, the corresponding dividends and distributions will be reinvested.


12.	How can I make an optional cash payment?

Participants may make an optional cash payment for the purchase of additional shares of common stock at any time, subject to the limitations listed in the response to Question 14 below.

Participants may do so in one of three ways:

(a) By Check. Participants can make additional cash investments by sending a check ($50–$10,000), payable to Computershare—American Capital Agency Corp., in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank. Cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or third party checks are not acceptable. Optional cash investments may be mailed to the Plan Administrator with the tear-off portion of the account statement or via detailed written instructions and enclosed in the return envelope with each statement, or

mailed to the address specified on the statement. Checks must be received by the Plan Administrator at least two (2) business days before an investment date in order to be invested on that date. When investing by check, participants do not need to invest the same amount each time and are under no obligation to make investments in any month or at any particular time.

(b) By One-Time Online Bank Debit. A registered holder of our common stock can make an investment online ($50–$10,000) by logging on to www.computershare.com/investor, selecting “Investor Centre,” and following the online instructions. Registered holders should refer to the online confirmation for their bank account debit date and investment date. When investing by one-time online bank debit, registered holders do not need to invest the same amount each time and are under no obligation to make investments in any month or at any particular time.

(c) By Recurring Automatic Debits from a U.S. Bank Account. A registered holder may also authorize the Plan Administrator, on a direct debit authorization form or the Plan Administrator’s website, www.computershare.com/investor, to make recurring monthly purchases of a specified dollar amount ($50–$10,000) paid for by automatic withdrawal from the registered holder’s U.S. bank account. Funds will be withdrawn from the bank account, via electronic funds transfer, on the 20^th day of each month (or the next business day if the 20th day is not a business day). Requests will be processed and will become effective as promptly as practicable; however, registered holders should allow four to six weeks for the first investment to be initiated. Automatic deductions will continue at the level set until a registered holder changes his or her instructions by notifying the Plan Administrator. To terminate monthly purchases by automatic withdrawal, written, signed instructions must be sent to the Plan Administrator. Alternatively, you can terminate monthly deductions through www.computershare.com/investor. It is the responsibility of the registered holder to notify the Plan Administrator if any direct debit information changes.


13.	Are funds held in my Plan account insured?

No. Funds held in your Plan account pending investment or return are not treated as a bank deposit or account and are not insured by the FDIC or any other governmental agency or instrumentality.


14.	What are the limitations on the amount of cash payments?

Participants may make optional cash payments of $50 to $10,000 or, with our prior approval, in excess of $10,000 per month.

If any check, draft or electronic funds transfer that is tendered or ordered by a participant as payment to the Plan Administrator to purchase common stock is dishonored, refused or returned, such participant agrees that the purchased shares when credited to the participant’s account may be sold, on the Plan Administrator’s order, without the participant’s consent or approval, to satisfy the amount owing on the purchase. The “amount owing” will include the purchase price paid, any purchase and sale transaction fees, any brokerage commissions and the Plan Administrator’s returned check or failed electronic payment fee of $25.00. If the sale proceeds of purchased shares are insufficient to satisfy the amount owing, such participant authorizes the Plan Administrator to sell additional shares then credited to the participant’s account as necessary to cover the amount owing, without the participant’s further consent or authorization. The Plan Administrator may sell shares to cover an amount owing as a result of the participant’s order in any manner consistent with applicable securities laws. Any sale for that purpose on a national securities market will be considered to be commercially reasonable. A participant grants the Plan Administrator a security interest in all shares credited to such participant’s account, including securities subsequently acquired and held or tendered for deposit, for purposes of securing any amount owing as described in this paragraph.


15.	How do I make monthly optional cash purchases in excess of $10,000?

Request for Waiver. Cash purchases of more than $10,000 per month may be made only pursuant to our acceptance of a request to make such a purchase. If participants wish to make an optional cash purchase in excess of $10,000 (or other maximum amount established by us) for any month, participants must obtain our prior written approval with a form (“Request for Waiver”) and a copy of such written approval must accompany any such optional cash purchase. We have sole discretion to grant any approval for optional cash purchases in excess of the allowable maximum amount. Unless the participant has complied with these procedures, any amount submitted for investment over $10,000 will be returned without interest.

We expect to approve requests for optional cash purchases in excess of $10,000 from financial intermediaries, including brokers and dealers, and other participants from time to time. Participants may ascertain whether we are accepting Requests for Waivers in any given month, and certain other important information, by contacting us on the first business day of each month at (301) 968-9302 or such other number as we may establish from time to time. In addition, participants may ascertain whether we are accepting requests in the first month that the Plan is activated by calling the number above on or about the date of this prospectus. When participants call this number we will inform such participants (by a prerecorded message) of one of the three following pieces of information:


•	that we will not be accepting Requests for Waivers that month;

•

that we will be accepting Requests for Waivers that month. In that case, we will provide relevant information such as the date on which a Pricing Period (as defined below) will begin; the number of days in the Pricing Period; the Waiver Discount (as defined below), if applicable; the Threshold Price (as defined below), if applicable; and whether or not the Pricing Period Extension Feature (as defined below) will be activated; or


•	that we have not yet determined whether we will be accepting Requests for Waivers. If this is the case, we will inform participants of a date later in the month when they can call to ascertain whether we will be accepting Requests for Waivers.

Participants may make a Request for Waiver by contacting Investor Relations at IR@agnc.com or by down loading the Request for Waiver form on our website, www.AGNC.com. Completed Request for Waiver forms should be submitted to us via facsimile at (301) 968-9301 no later than three business days prior to the applicable Pricing Period (defined below). We will notify the participant as to whether the Request for Waiver has been granted or denied, either in whole or in part, within one business day of the receipt of the request. If the Request for Waiver is granted in part, we will advise the participant of the maximum amount that will be accepted in connection with the purchase. If the request is approved, the Plan Administrator must receive the funds for the purchase prior to or on the applicable date specified by the Plan Administrator for the relevant Pricing Period (which typically will be one business day prior to the applicable Pricing Period). If a response is not received in connection with the Request for Waiver, the participant should assume that the request has been denied. We may alter, amend, supplement or waive, in our sole discretion, the time periods and/or other parameters relating to optional cash purchases in excess of $10,000 made by one or more participants in the Plan or new investors, at any time and from time to time, prior to the granting of any Request for Waiver. For more information regarding a particular Pricing Period (including applicable Pricing Period start dates), please contact us at (301) 968-9302.

Purchase Price of Shares for Optional Cash Purchases in Excess of $10,000. Shares purchased pursuant to an approved Request for Waiver will be purchased directly from us as described herein, including the establishment of a “Threshold Price” as more fully described below. The Purchase Price may be reduced by the Waiver Discount that we have provided for optional cash purchases in excess of $10,000 on each Investment Date. If we grant the request to purchase shares pursuant to a Request for Waiver, there will be a “Pricing Period”, which will generally consist of one to 12 separate days during which our common stock is quoted on The NASDAQ Global Select Market during the applicable Pricing Period. Each of these separate days will be an “Investment Date”, and an equal proportion of your optional cash purchase will be invested on each trading day during such Pricing Period, subject to the qualifications listed below. The purchase price for shares acquired on a particular Investment Date will be equal to 100% (subject to change as provided below) of the volume weighted average price, rounded to four decimal places, of our common stock as quoted on The NASDAQ Global Select Market only, obtained from Bloomberg, LP for the trading hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (including the closing print), Eastern time, for that Investment Date. The Plan Administrator will apply all optional cash purchases made pursuant to a Request for Waiver for which good funds are received on or before the first business day before the Pricing Period to the purchase of shares of our common stock on each Investment Date of the applicable Pricing Period.

Threshold Price. We may establish for a Pricing Period a minimum price (or the Threshold Price) applicable to optional cash purchases made pursuant to a Request for Waiver. At least three business days prior to the first day of the applicable Pricing Period, we will determine whether to establish a Threshold Price, and if the Threshold Price is established, its amount, and will so notify the Plan Administrator. This determination will be made by us in our discretion after a review of current market conditions, the level of participation in the Plan, and current and projected capital needs. If established for any Pricing Period, the Threshold Price will be stated as a dollar amount that the volume weighted average price, rounded to four decimal places, of our common stock as quoted on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, obtained from Bloomberg, LP for the trading hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (including the closing print), Eastern time, for each trading day of such Pricing Period (not adjusted for discounts, if any) must equal or exceed. Except as provided below, we will exclude from the Pricing Period any trading day that the unsolicited volume weighted average price is less than the Threshold Price. We also will exclude from the Pricing Period and from the determination of the purchase price any day in which no shares of common stock are quoted on The NASDAQ Global Select Market. For example, if the Threshold Price is not met for two of the trading days in a 10 day Pricing Period, then we will return 20% of the funds you submitted in connection with your Request for Waiver unless we have activated the pricing period extension feature for the Pricing Period which is described below.

Pricing Period Extension Feature. We may elect to activate for any particular Pricing Period the pricing period extension feature which will provide that the initial Pricing Period will be extended by the number of days that the Threshold Price is not satisfied, or on which no shares of our common stock are quoted on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, subject to a maximum of five trading days. If we elect to activate the pricing period extension feature and the Threshold Price is satisfied for any additional day that has been added to the initial Pricing Period, that day will be included as one of the trading days for the Pricing Period in lieu of the day on which the Threshold Price was not met or trades of our common stock were not reported. For example, if the determined Pricing Period is 10 days, and the Threshold Price is not satisfied for three out of those 10 days in the initial Pricing Period, and we had previously announced at the time of the Request for Waiver acceptance that the

pricing period extension feature was activated, then the Pricing Period will automatically be extended, and if the Threshold Price is satisfied on the next three trading days (or a subset thereof), then those three days (or a subset thereof) will become Investment Days in lieu of the three days on which the Threshold Price was not met. As a result, because there were 10 trading days during the initial and extended Pricing Period on which the Threshold Price was satisfied, all of the optional cash purchase will be invested.

Return of Unsubscribed Funds. We will return a portion of each optional cash purchase in excess of $10,000 for each trading day of a Pricing Period or extended Pricing Period, if applicable, for which the Threshold Price is not met or for each day in which no shares of common stock are quoted on The NASDAQ Global Select Market (“unsubscribed funds”). Any unsubscribed funds will be returned within five business days after the last day of the Pricing Period, or if applicable, the extended Pricing Period, without interest. The amount returned will be based on the number of days during which the Threshold Price was not met with compared to the number of days in the Pricing Period or extended Pricing Period. For example, the returned amount in a 10 day Pricing Period will equal one-tenth (1/10) of the total amount of such optional cash purchase (not just the amount exceeding $10,000) for each trading day that the Threshold Price is not met or for each trading day in which sales are not reported. The establishment of the Threshold Price and the possible return of a portion of the investment applies only to optional cash purchases in excess of $10,000. Setting a Threshold Price for a Pricing Period will not affect the setting of a Threshold Price for any other Pricing Period. We may waive our right to set a Threshold Price for any particular Pricing Period. Neither we nor the Plan Administrator is required to give you notice of the Threshold Price for any Pricing Period.

Waiver Discount. Each month, at least three business days prior to the first day of the applicable Pricing Period, at the same time the Threshold Price is determined, we may establish a discount from the market price applicable to optional cash purchases made pursuant to a Request for Waiver. This discount (or the Waiver Discount) may be between 0% and 5% of the purchase price, and may vary each month and for each Pricing Period. The Waiver Discount will be established at our sole discretion after a review of current market conditions, the level of participation in the Plan, the attractiveness of obtaining such additional funds through the sale of common stock as compared to other sources of funds and current and projected capital needs. You may obtain the Waiver Discount applicable to the next month by contacting us via email at IR@agnc.com. Setting a Waiver Discount for a particular month shall not affect the setting of a Waiver Discount for any subsequent month. The Waiver Discounts will apply only to optional cash purchases of more than $10,000 (or other applicable maximum monthly amount). The Waiver Discounts will apply to the entire optional cash purchase and not just the portion of the optional cash purchase that exceeds $10,000.


16.	Will I earn interest on funds in my Plan account prior to investment or return to me?

No. Interest will not be paid on funds deposited by you in your Plan account pending investment or return to you.

Purchase of Shares under the Plan


17.	What is the source of shares purchased under the Plan?

All dividends reinvested through the Plan and all optional cash purchases will be used to purchase, in our sole discretion, either newly issued or treasury shares directly from us or shares on the open market or a combination thereof. Open market purchases may be made on any securities exchange where the shares of our common stock are traded, in the over-the-counter market or in privately negotiated transactions with third persons, and may be on such terms as to price, delivery and otherwise as we may determine.


18.	At what price will shares be purchased under the Plan?

The purchase price of shares purchased directly from us will be the volume weighted average price, rounded to four decimal places, of our common stock as quoted on The NASDAQ Global Select Market on the date the shares are purchased. The purchase price of shares purchased in the open market will be the weighted average price per share of all shares purchased for a particular investment. See Question 15 for the purchase price for optional cash purchases in excess of $10,000 per month.


19.	When will shares of our common stock be purchased under the Plan?

Dividend Reinvestments. In the months in which dividends are paid, dividends will be invested beginning on the dividend or distribution payment date. If the shares of our common stock are to be newly issued or treasury shares, such shares will be issued or delivered on the dividend or distribution payment date. If our shares of common stock are to be purchased by the Plan Administrator in the open market, the Plan Administrator will make every effort to invest any dividends it receives promptly beginning on each dividend or distribution payment date, and in no event later than thirty days from such date, except where necessary under any applicable federal securities laws.

Initial and Optional Cash Purchases up to $10,000. For common stock acquired directly from us, the purchase date will generally be on the 25th calendar day of each month, or the next trading day if the 25th day is not a trading day. For common

stock acquired in market transactions, purchases will begin on the 25th calendar day of each month, or the next trading day if the 25th day is not a trading day, and will be completed no later than thirty-five (35) days following such date, except where reinvestment of such funds at a later date is necessary or advisable under applicable securities laws. The Plan Administrator will commingle all funds received from participants. Once a participant has placed an order, he or she may not request a cash refund or otherwise change the order.

No interest will be paid on funds pending investment held by the Plan Administrator.

Reports to Participants


20.	What accounts are maintained for participants and what reports on these accounts do participants receive?

The Plan Administrator will maintain a separate Plan account for each participant. All shares issued to participants under the Plan will be credited to their Plan account. The Plan Administrator will mail to each participant a statement confirming the issuance of shares within fifteen days after the allocation of shares is made. The statement will show the amount of the dividend or distribution, the price at which shares were credited, the number of full and fractional shares credited, the number of shares previously credited and the cumulative total of shares credited. For market order sales, the time of sale will be provided. For any shares acquired in the Plan, specific cost basis information will be included in your statement in accordance with applicable law. In addition, participants will receive copies of our annual and quarterly reports to stockholders, proxy statements and dividend income information for tax purposes. Participants may also view year-to-date transaction activity in their Plan account under the Plan for the current year, as well as activity in prior years, by accessing their Plan account at www.computershare.com/investor.

Voting of Shares


21.	How will a participant’s shares be voted at meetings of stockholders?

Participants will receive a proxy card covering the total number of shares held, including shares credited to their Plan account. If a proxy card is returned properly signed, but without indicating instructions as to the manner in which shares are to be voted with respect to any item thereon, the corresponding shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendation of our Board of Directors. If the proxy card is not returned, or it is unexecuted or improperly executed, the corresponding shares will not be voted unless the participant or their duly appointed representative votes in person at the meeting.

Certificates for Shares/Safekeeping


22.	Will certificates be issued for shares issued under the Plan?

No. Certificates for shares issued under the Plan will not be furnished until the Plan account is terminated or unless the participant requests certificates through the Internet, by telephone or in writing for a specified number of shares credited to their Plan account. All written requests for certificates should be directed to the Plan Administrator, allowing two weeks for processing. The issuance of certificates for shares credited to a Plan account will not terminate participation in the Plan. No certificate for a fractional share will be issued. If the participant terminates participation in the Plan (see Question 29), the Plan Administrator will sell for the account any fractional share and send a check for the proceeds, valued at the then-current market price for our common stock, less any applicable services charges, processing fees and any other costs of sale.


23.	In whose name will certificates be registered when issued?

The Plan account will be maintained in the name under which you registered, or in the name of the account in which you owned securities, at the time you became a participant. Certificates for whole shares issued at your request from your Plan account will be similarly registered.


24.	Can stock certificates be deposited into a stockholder’s Plan account for safekeeping?

Yes. A participant can deposit certificate(s) for shares of our common stock into their Plan account. To deposit shares, send the certificate(s) to the Plan Administrator, at the address provided on page 2 of this prospectus, by registered or certified mail, with return receipt requested, or some other form of traceable mail, and properly insured. Do not sign the certificate(s) or complete the assignment section. When submitting certificate(s) for deposit into the Plan account, be sure to include a written request to have the certificate(s) deposited. Shares that are deposited will be credited in book-entry form to the Plan account. The advantages of holding shares in book-entry form include protection against certificate loss, theft, and damage.


25.	How do I sell or transfer shares in my account?

Participants may sell or transfer shares in their account by contacting the Plan Administrator. Shares may be sold through a market order or a batch order, depending on how the sale request is submitted.

Market Order: A market order is a request to sell shares promptly at the current market price. Market order sales are only available at www.computershare.com/investor through Investor Centre or by calling the Plan Administrator directly at 1-800-733-5001 (within the United States and Canada) or 1-781-575-2879 (outside the United States and Canada). Market order sale requests received at www.computershare.com/investor through Investor Centre or by telephone will be placed promptly upon receipt during market hours (normally 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). Any orders received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time will be placed promptly on the next day the market is open. The price shall be the market price of the sale obtained by the Plan Administrator’s broker, less a service charge of $25 and applicable processing fees, currently $0.12 per share.

Batch Order: A batch order is an accumulation of all sales requests for a security submitted together as a collective request. Batch orders are submitted on each market day, assuming there are sale requests to be processed. Sale instructions for batch orders received by the Plan Administrator will be processed no later than five business days after the date on which the order is received (except where deferral is required under applicable federal or state laws or regulations), assuming the applicable market is open for trading and sufficient market liquidity exists. Batch order sales are available at www.computershare.com/investor through Investor Centre, by calling the Plan Administrator directly at 1-800-733-5001 (within the United States and Canada) or 1-781-575-2879 (outside the United States and Canada) or in writing. All sales requests received in writing will be submitted as batch order sales. The Plan Administrator will cause a Participant’s shares to be sold on the open market within five business days of receipt of a request. To maximize cost savings for batch order sale requests, the Plan Administrator will seek to sell shares in round lot transactions. For this purpose the Plan Administrator may combine each selling participant’s shares with those of other selling participants. In every case of a batch order sale, the price to each selling program participant shall be the weighted average sale price obtained by the Plan Administrator’s broker for each aggregate order placed by the Plan Administrator and executed by the broker, less a service charge of $15 and applicable processing fees, currently $0.12 per share. Proceeds are normally paid by check, which are distributed within 24 hours after a Participant’s sale transaction has settled.

The Plan Administrator may, for various reasons, require a transaction request to be submitted in writing. Participants should contact the Plan Administrator to determine if their particular request, including any sales request, must be submitted in writing. The Plan Administrator reserves the right to decline to process a sale if it determines, in its sole discretion, that supporting legal documentation is required. In addition, no one will have any authority or power to direct the time or price at which shares for the Plan are sold and no one, other than the Plan Administrator, will select the broker(s) or dealer(s) through or from whom sales are to be made.

Participants should be aware that the price of our common stock may rise or fall during the period between a request for sale, its receipt by the Plan Administrator and the ultimate sale on the open market. Instructions sent to the Plan Administrator to sell shares are binding and may not be rescinded. If a participant prefers to have complete control as to the exact timing and sales prices, participants can request to transfer the shares to a broker.

Dividends and Stock Splits


26.	What happens if we issue a stock dividend or declare a stock split?

Any stock dividends or split shares we distribute on shares of our common stock (whole and fractional) with respect to both certificated and book-entry shares will be credited automatically to the participant’s Plan account in book-entry form.

Federal Tax Consequences of Acquiring Shares under the Plan

The summary set forth in Questions 27 and 28 below is intended only as a general discussion of the current United States federal income tax consequences of participation in the Plan. This discussion does not purport to deal with all aspects of taxation that may be relevant to a particular participant in light of its personal investment circumstances, or to certain types of participants (including insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions, broker-dealers or foreign persons) subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws. This discussion is based on various rulings of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) regarding several types of dividend reinvestment plans. No ruling, however, has been issued or requested regarding the Plan. Additionally, this discussion is not binding upon, nor considered authority by, the IRS or any court, and no assurance can be provided that the tax treatment discussed below or claimed by any participant in the Plan will not be successfully challenged by the IRS. THEREFORE, YOU ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR IN THIS REGARD. For a discussion of the federal income tax consequences of holding stock in a REIT generally, see the section entitled “Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Stockholders” below.


27.	What is the tax treatment of a participant that acquires shares in lieu of cash dividends under the Plan?

Participants who, pursuant to the Plan, receive shares in lieu of the cash distributions to which they would have otherwise been entitled will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having received, on the distribution payment date, a taxable distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of such shares as determined by the Board of Directors on the Closing Date. For a discussion of the federal income tax consequences of receiving a cash distribution, see the section entitled “Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Stockholders” below. The tax basis of the shares issued pursuant to the Plan will equal the amount included in income as a result of the participant’s receipt of such shares.

Distribution payments to a Plan participant will be subject to U.S. withholding tax to the same extent as a cash distribution. For a discussion of the federal income tax consequences of receiving a distribution, see the section entitled “Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Stockholders” below. In that case, the amount of tax to be withheld will be deducted from the amount of the cash distribution that would have otherwise been made to the participant and only the reduced amount will be reinvested in Plan shares. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained.

Participants will not realize any taxable income upon receipt of a certificate for whole shares credited to their Plan account either upon their request for a specified number of shares or upon termination of enrollment in the Plan.

For additional information on the tax consequences of participation in the Plan, please consult your own tax advisor.


28.	What is the tax treatment of a participant that acquires shares at a discount through an optional cash purchase?

The IRS has privately ruled that stockholders who acquire stock at a discount to fair market value pursuant to a stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan of a REIT will not be treated as receiving dividend income in respect of the discount unless such stockholder also participates in the reinvestment of dividends under such plan. Private letter rulings are not precedent and may not be relied upon by any taxpayer other than the taxpayer to whom the ruling is addressed. Nevertheless, such rulings often reflect the thinking of the IRS at the time of the ruling. Under the analysis adopted by the IRS in those rulings, the tax treatment of a purchase of shares under the Plan with an initial cash purchase by a prospective investor or a cash purchase by an existing stockholder may differ depending on whether the purchaser is participating in the dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan.

If you are not participating in the dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan, you may not be treated for federal income tax purposes as having received a distribution from us equal to the amount of the discount. In that case, your tax basis in the shares purchased will equal the purchase price for such shares.

On the other hand, if you participate in the dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan, you may be treated for federal income tax purposes as having received a distribution from us upon the purchase of shares with a cash purchase in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the per share fair market value of the purchased shares multiplied by the number of shares (including any fractional share) purchased, plus any trading fees or service charges that we pay on your behalf, over (ii) the purchase price of such shares, taking into account any discount. For a discussion of the federal income tax consequences of receiving a distribution from us, see the section entitled “Federal Income Tax Considerations—Taxation of Stockholders” below. In the case of participants who are subject to withholding tax in respect of amounts deemed to be received under the Plan (see above), we or the Plan Administrator will reinvest dividends less the amount of tax required to be withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained.

If you participate in the dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan, you will receive a tax basis in shares acquired with a cash purchase equal to the purchase price you paid for the shares plus the amount of income you recognized as a result of any cash purchase. The holding period for shares (including a fractional share) acquired under the Plan generally will begin on the day after the shares were acquired.

Modification and Termination


29.	What happens if a participant wishes to terminate participation in the Plan?

Participants may terminate participation in the Plan at any time by notifying the Plan Administrator through the Internet, by telephone or in writing. To be effective for any given dividend or distribution payment date, the notice to terminate must be received by the Plan Administrator before the record date for the dividend or distribution payment. All dividends or distributions with a record date after receipt of notification will be sent directly to the participant. Participants may cancel an optional cash purchase of $10,000 or less by advising the Plan Administrator at least two (2) business days before the applicable purchase date. The Plan Administrator will return the funds from a canceled purchase without interest as soon as practical. No refund of a check or money order will be made until the funds have been actually received by the Plan Administrator. For cash purchases of more than $10,000 per month, see Question 15.

Upon termination of participation, you will receive a certificate for the number of full shares of our common stock held by the Plan Administrator at no charge. At the same time, you will receive a check in payment for any fractional shares in your

account, valued at the then-current market price of our common stock, less any applicable processing fees and any other costs of sale. If you prefer, you can request (through the Internet, by telephone or in writing) that your full shares of our common stock held by the Plan Administrator be sold, and you will receive a check for the proceeds, valued at the then-current market price of our common stock, less any applicable service charges, processing fees and any other costs of sale.


30.	May the Plan be amended, suspended or terminated?

We, along with the Plan Administrator, may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Any such amendment, suspension or termination will be effective upon a designated dividend record date and notice of such amendment, suspension or termination will be sent to all participants at least thirty (30) days prior to such record date.

If the Plan is terminated, whole shares will continue to be held in book-entry form in your Plan account or distributed in certificate form at our sole discretion. A cash payment will be made for any fractional share.

Plan Administrator Responsibilities


31.	What are the Plan Administrator’s responsibilities under the Plan?

The Plan Administrator will not be liable under the Plan for any act done by the Plan Administrator in good faith or for any good faith omission to act including, without limitation, any claims for liability (a) arising out of failure to terminate a participant’s participation in the Plan upon the participant’s death prior to receipt of notice in writing of such death; (b) with respect to the prices at which shares are purchased or sold for the participant’s account and the time such purchases or sales are made; and (c) relating to the value of the shares acquired for the participant’s Plan account.

The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, imposes certain reporting obligations upon brokers and other middlemen. As a result, the Plan Administrator will be required to report to the IRS and the participant any sales of stock by the Plan Administrator on behalf of a participant.


32.	What if I have additional questions about the Plan?

Additional questions about the Plan should be directed to the Plan Administrator. If your shares are held by a Nominee, contact your Nominee for more information. They can contact the Plan Administrator directly for instructions on how to participate on your behalf.

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

The following is a summary of the rights and preferences of our common stock and related provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (our "Charter"), and Second Amended and Restated By-laws, as amended (our "Bylaws"). While we believe that the following description covers the material terms of our common stock, the description may not contain all of the information that is important to you. We encourage you to read carefully this entire prospectus, our Charter and Bylaws and the other documents we refer to herein for a more complete understanding of our capital stock. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

General

Our Charter provides that we may issue up to 600,000,000 shares of common stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, both having a par value of $0.01 per share. As of May 16, 2013, 396,451,470 shares of our common stock and 6,900,000 shares of our preferred stock, all of which has been designated as our 8.000% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, were issued and outstanding.

Voting Rights

Subject to the restrictions contained in our Charter regarding the transfer and ownership of our capital stock and except as may otherwise be specified in the terms of any class or series of common stock, our common stockholders are entitled to one vote per share. Our common stockholders are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all holders of our common stock present in person or represented by proxy, voting together as a single class; provided, that if the number of nominees for director exceeds the number of directors to be elected at our annual meeting, each director shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast. Except as otherwise provided by law, amendments to our Charter must be approved by a majority or, in some cases, a super-majority of the combined voting power of all shares of all classes of capital stock, voting together as a single class.

Dividend Rights

Subject to the restrictions contained in our Charter regarding the transfer and ownership of our capital stock, our common stockholders will share ratably (based on the number of common shares held) if and when any dividend is declared by our Board of Directors. Dividends consisting of common stock may be paid only as follows: (i) common stock may be paid only to holders of common stock; and (ii) shares shall be paid proportionally with respect to each outstanding common share.

Liquidation Rights

On our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, each of our common stockholders will be entitled to a pro rata dividend of any assets available for dividend to common stockholders.

Other Matters

In the event of our merger or consolidation with or into another company in connection with which shares of common stock are converted into or exchangeable for shares of stock, other securities or property (including cash), all of our common stockholders will be entitled to receive the same kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property (including cash). No shares of our common stock will be subject to redemption or have preemptive rights to purchase additional shares.

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer of Our Capital Stock

In order to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, 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 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) during the second half of any calendar year.

Our Charter, subject to certain exceptions, contains restrictions on the number of shares of our common stock and our capital stock that a person may own and may prohibit certain entities from owning our shares. Our Charter provides that (subject to certain exceptions described below) no person may beneficially or constructively own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, more than 9.8% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of either our common stock or our capital stock. Pursuant to our Charter, our Board of Directors has the power to increase or decrease the percentage of our common stock and our 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 stock or our 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 stock or our 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 stock or our 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. If our Board of Directors changes the stock ownership limit, it will (i) notify each stockholder of record of any such change, and (ii) publicly announce any such change, in each case at least 30 days prior to the effective date of such change.

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 qualify as a REIT 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. In addition, no such person may own an interest in any tenant that would cause us to own, actually or constructively, more than a 9.9% interest in such tenant. Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of our capital stock that will or 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 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.

Our Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may exempt a person from the foregoing restrictions. The person seeking an exemption must provide to our Board of Directors such conditions, representations and undertakings 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 Internal Revenue Service (the “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 American Capital an exemption from these restrictions, subject to the continued accuracy of American Capital’s representation to us, among others, that no person or entity beneficially or constructively owns more than 9.8% (in value or number, whichever is more restrictive) of any class or series of our capital stock as a result of any such person or entity’s beneficial or constructive ownership of capital stock of American Capital, taken together with any shares of our capital stock owned by any such person or entity.

Any attempted transfer of our capital stock which, if effective, would result in a violation of the foregoing restrictions 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 Delaware 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 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 immediately 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.

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 more than 5% (or such lower percentage as required by the Internal Revenue Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder) in number or in value of all classes or series of our capital stock, including shares of our common 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 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 and to ensure compliance with the 9.8% ownership limitations in our Charter.

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

Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Our Charter and Bylaws

Our Charter and Bylaws contain provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the Board of Directors and that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a future takeover or change in control of our Company unless the takeover or change in control is approved by our Board of Directors. In addition to the above-described restrictions regarding the transfer and ownership of our capital stock, these provisions include the following:

Stockholder Action by Written Consent

Our Charter provides that stockholder action may not be taken by written consent in lieu of a meeting and that stockholder action may be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders.

Elimination of the Ability to Call Special Meetings

Our Bylaws provide that, except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of our stockholders can only be called by our chief executive officer, pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of our Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors that has been duly designated by the Board of Directors and whose powers and authority include the power to call such meetings, or by the chair of our Board of Directors. Stockholders are not permitted to call a special meeting or to require our Board of Directors to call a special meeting.

Removal of Directors; Board of Directors Vacancies

Our Charter provides that members of our Board of Directors may only be removed for cause, and only with the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66% of the combined voting power of all the shares of all classes of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. Our Bylaws provide that only our Board of Directors may fill vacant directorships. These provisions would prevent a stockholder from gaining control of our Board of Directors by removing incumbent directors and filling the resulting vacancies with such stockholder’s own nominees.

Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws

The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or DGCL, provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote is required to amend or repeal a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws, unless the certificate of incorporation requires a greater percentage. Our Charter generally requires the approval of both a majority of the combined voting power of all the classes of shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and a majority of the members of our Board of Directors to amend any provisions of our Charter except

that provisions of our Charter relating to the powers, numbers, classes, elections, terms and removal of our directors, as well as the ability to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors requires the affirmative vote of at least 66% of the combined voting power of all the shares of all classes of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. In addition, our Charter (i) grants our Board of Directors the authority to amend and repeal our Bylaws without a stockholder vote in any manner not inconsistent with the DGCL and (ii) requires that stockholders may only amend our Bylaws with the affirmative vote of 66% of the combined voting power of all the shares of all classes of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

The foregoing provisions of our Charter and Bylaws could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our Board of Directors and in the policies formulated by our Board of Directors and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change of control. These provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal. The provisions also are intended to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and, as a consequence, they also may inhibit fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. Such provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our management or delaying or preventing a transaction that might benefit you or other minority stockholders.

Section 203 of the DGCL

We will not be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the “business combination” or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own) 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. In our original certificate of incorporation, we elected not to be bound by Section 203.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

Our Charter and Bylaws provide indemnification for our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, except that such directors and officers will not be indemnified to the extent that any such person has committed willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard involved in the conduct of such person’s duty to or for us. In addition, as permitted by Delaware law, our Charter includes provisions that eliminate the personal liability of our directors for monetary damages resulting from breaches of certain fiduciary duties as a director. The effect of this provision is to restrict our rights and the rights of our stockholders in derivative suits to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of fiduciary duties as a director, except that a director will be personally liable to the extent such director has committed willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of such director’s duties involved in the conduct of the office of director.

These provisions may be held not to be enforceable for violations of the federal securities laws of the United States.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our shares of common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The principal business address of Computershare Trust Company, N.A. is P.O. Box 43010, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3010.

FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in common stock of American Capital Agency Corp. For purposes of this section under the heading “Federal Income Tax Considerations,” references to “American Capital Agency Corp.,” “we,” “our” and “us” mean only American Capital Agency 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 (“Treasury”), rulings and other administrative pronouncements issued by 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. The summary is also based upon the assumption that we will operate American Capital Agency Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliated entities in accordance with their applicable organizational documents or partnership agreements. This summary is for general information only and is not tax advice. The Internal Revenue Code provisions governing the federal income tax treatment of REITs and their stockholders are highly technical and complex, and this summary is qualified in its entirety by the express language of applicable Internal Revenue Code provisions, Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof. Moreover, this summary 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;


•	broker-dealers;


•	regulated investment companies;


•	partnerships and trusts;


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


•	persons who receive American Capital Agency Corp. stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation;


•	persons holding American Capital Agency Corp. stock as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction,” “synthetic security” or other integrated investment;


•	U.S. expatriates;


•	persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;


•	persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;


•	persons subject to the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities;

and, except to the extent discussed below:


•	tax-exempt organizations; and


•	foreign investors.

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

THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX TREATMENT OF HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON 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 STOCKHOLDER OF HOLDING OUR COMMON STOCK WILL DEPEND ON THE STOCKHOLDER'S PARTICULAR TAX CIRCUMSTANCES. YOU ARE URGED TO CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND FOREIGN 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 COMMON STOCK.

Taxation of American Capital Agency Corp.

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT, commencing with our initial taxable year ended December 31, 2008. We believe that we have been organized and have operated in such a manner that permits us to satisfy the requirements for taxation as a REIT under the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

The law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has acted as our tax counsel in connection with this offering of our common stock. In connection with this offering of our common stock, we expect to receive an opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP to the effect that, commencing with our initial taxable year, we have been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code, and that our actual method of operation has enabled, and our proposed method of operation will continue to enable, us to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for our taxable year ending December 31, 2013 and subsequent years. It must be emphasized that the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will be based on various assumptions relating to our organization and operation and will be conditioned upon fact-based representations and covenants made by our management regarding our organization, assets, and income, and the present and future conduct of our business operations. While we intend to operate so that we 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 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP or by us that we will qualify as a REIT for any particular year. The opinion will be expressed as of the date issued and will not cover subsequent periods. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will have 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 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 opinions.

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 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Our ability to qualify as a REIT 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 intend to operate so that we 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 qualify as a REIT, we will generally be entitled to a deduction for dividends that we pay and therefore will not be subject to federal corporate 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 domestic stockholders that are individuals, trusts or estates are taxed on corporate dividends at a reduced maximum rate (the same as 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. See “—Taxation of Stockholders—Taxation of Taxable Domestic 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 Domestic Stockholders—Distributions.”

In any year in which we qualify as a REIT, we will nonetheless be subject to 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.

•

If we derive “excess inclusion income” from an interest in certain mortgage loan securitization structures (i.e., a “taxable mortgage pool” or a residual interest in a real estate mortgage investment conduit, or REMIC), we could be subject to corporate level federal income tax at a 35% rate to the extent that such income is allocable to specified types of tax-exempt stockholders known as “disqualified organizations” that are not subject to unrelated business income tax.

•

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 the income from the sale or operation of the property may be subject to corporate income tax at the highest applicable rate (currently 35%).


•	If we should 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 should 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 corporate tax rate (currently 35%) if that amount exceeds $50,000 per failure.

•

If we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (a) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (b) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (c) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we would be subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the sum of (i) the amounts that we actually distributed and (ii) 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 (“TRS”) (as described below) that do not reflect arm's-length terms.

•

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 tax on such appreciation at the highest corporate income tax rate then applicable 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.


•	The earnings of our subsidiaries, including any TRS, may be subject to federal corporate income tax to the extent that such subsidiaries are subchapter C corporations.

In addition, we and our subsidiaries may be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local, and foreign 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.

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 domestic 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); and

(7) which 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 2008). Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation 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 stock. 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 you fail or refuse to comply with the demands, you will be required by Treasury 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 satisfy this requirement.

The Internal Revenue Code provides relief from violations of the REIT gross income requirements, as described below under “—Income Tests,” in cases where a violation is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, and other requirements are met, including the payment of a penalty tax that is based upon the magnitude of the violation. In addition, certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code extend similar relief in the case of certain violations of the REIT asset requirements (see “—Asset Tests” below) and other REIT requirements, again provided that the violation is due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect, and other conditions are met, including the payment of a penalty tax. If we fail to satisfy any of the various REIT requirements, there can be no assurance that these relief provisions would be available to enable us to maintain our qualification as a REIT, and, if such relief provisions are available, the amount of any resultant penalty tax could be substantial.

Effect of Subsidiary Entities

Ownership of Partnership Interests. If we are a partner in an entity that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, Treasury 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. 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 value prong of the 10% asset 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). 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 of our subsidiary partnerships will be treated as our assets and items of income for purposes of applying the REIT requirements.

Disregarded Subsidiaries. If we own a corporate subsidiary that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary,” that subsidiary is generally disregarded for 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 federal income tax purposes, are also generally disregarded as separate entities for 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 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. In general, we may jointly elect with a subsidiary corporation, whether or not wholly-owned, to treat such subsidiary corporation as a TRS. We generally may not own more than 10% of the securities of a taxable corporation, as measured by voting power or value, unless we 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 federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a TRS or other taxable corporation generally is subject to corporate income tax on its earnings, which may reduce the cash flow that we and our subsidiaries generate in the aggregate, and may reduce our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

We are 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 us is an asset in our hands, and we treat the dividends paid to us from such taxable subsidiary, if any, as income. This treatment can affect our income and asset test calculations, as described below. Because we do not include the assets and income of TRSs or other taxable subsidiary corporations in determining our compliance with the REIT requirements, we may use such entities to undertake indirectly activities that the REIT rules might otherwise preclude us from doing directly or through pass-through subsidiaries. For example, we may use TRSs or other taxable subsidiary corporations to conduct activities that give rise to certain categories of income (such as management fees or certain income with respect to mortgage servicing rights) or to conduct activities that, if conducted by us directly, would be treated in our hands as prohibited transactions.

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 corporate taxation. Accordingly, if we lend money to a TRS, the TRS may be unable to deduct all or a part of the interest paid on that loan, and the lack of an interest deduction could result in a material increase in the amount of tax paid by the TRS. 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. We intend that all of our transactions with our TRSs will be conducted on an arm's-length basis.

We may hold a significant amount of assets in one or more TRSs, subject to the limitation that securities in TRSs may not represent more than 25% of our assets. In general, we intend that loans that we originate or buy with an intention of selling in a manner that might expose us to a 100% tax on “prohibited transactions” will be originated or sold by a TRS. We anticipate that the TRS through which any such sales are made may be treated as a dealer for federal income tax purposes. As a dealer, the TRS may in general mark all the loans it holds on the last day of each taxable year to their market value, and may recognize ordinary income or loss on such loans with respect to such taxable year as if they had been sold for that value on that day. In addition, the TRS may further elect to be subject to the mark-to-market regime described above in the event that the TRS is properly classified as a “trader” as opposed to a “dealer” for federal income tax purposes.

Income Tests

In order to continue to qualify as a REIT, 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” 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, generally, agency securities and certain other types of mortgage-backed securities), “rents from real property,” 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 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 entered into after July 30, 2008 will be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests.

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, 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.

We intend to continue to invest primarily in agency securities that are either pass-through certificates or collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”). We expect that the agency securities will be treated either as interests in a grantor trust or as interests in a real estate mortgage investment conduit (“REMIC”) for federal income tax purposes and that all interest income from our agency securities will be qualifying income for the 95% gross income test. In the case of an agency securities treated as interests in grantor trusts, we would be treated as owning an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the mortgage loans held by the grantor trust. The interest on such mortgage loans would be 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 agency securities treated as interests in a REMIC, income derived from REMIC interests will generally be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 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 will qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test. In addition, some REMIC securitizations include imbedded interest rate 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 agency securities will be qualifying income for purposes of the REIT gross income tests.

We purchase and sell agency securities through “to-be-announced” forward contracts (“TBAs”) and recognize income or gains from the disposition of those TBAs, through dollar roll transactions or otherwise, and may continue to do so in the future. While 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 treat income and gains from our TBAs as qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, based on an opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP substantially to the effect that, for purposes of the 75% REIT gross income test, any gain recognized by us in connection with the settlement of our TBAs should be treated as gain from the sale or disposition of the underlying agency securities. Opinions of counsel are not binding on the IRS, and no assurance can be given that the IRS will not successfully challenge the conclusions set forth in such opinions. In addition, as noted above, the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is based on various assumptions relating to our TBAs and is conditioned upon fact-based representations and covenants made by our management regarding our TBAs. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert that such income is not qualifying income. If the IRS were to successfully challenge the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, we could be subject to a penalty tax or we could fail to qualify as a REIT if a sufficient portion of our income consists of income or gains from the disposition of TBAs.

Rents received by us, if any, will qualify as “rents from real property” in satisfying the gross income requirements described above only if several conditions are met. If rent is partly attributable to personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property, the portion of the rent that is attributable to the personal property will not qualify as “rents from real property” unless it constitutes 15% or less of the total rent received under the lease. In addition, the amount of rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. Amounts received as rent, however, generally will not be excluded from rents from real property solely by reason of being based on fixed percentages of gross receipts or sales. Also, rental income will qualify as rents from real property only to the extent that we do not directly or constructively hold a 10% or greater interest, as measured by vote or value, in the lessee's equity.

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 will 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, will be qualifying income for purposes of both the 95% and 75% gross income tests.

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 and will not be favorably counted for purposes of either gross income test. Any fees earned by our TRS will not be included for purposes of the gross income tests. 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.

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 being treated as nonqualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, we may still qualify 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 Treasury 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 not qualify as a REIT. As discussed above under “—Taxation of REITs in General,” even where these relief provisions apply, the Internal Revenue Code imposes a tax based upon the amount by which we fail to satisfy the particular gross income test.

Under The Housing and Economic Recovery Tax Act of 2008, the Secretary of the Treasury has been given broad authority to determine whether particular items of gain or income recognized after July 30, 2008, qualify or not under the 75% and 95% gross income tests, or are to be excluded from the measure of gross income for such purposes.

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. 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 voting power or value. The 5% and 10% asset tests do not apply to securities of TRSs and qualified REIT subsidiaries and the value prong of the 10% asset test does not apply to “straight debt” having specified characteristics and to certain other securities described below. Solely for purposes of the value prong of the 10% asset test, the determination of our interest in the assets of a partnership or limited liability company in which we own an interest will be based on our proportionate interest in any securities issued by the partnership or limited liability company, 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% (20% with respect to our 2008 taxable year) 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 value prong of the 10% asset test, as explained below).

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

We intend to continue to invest primarily in agency securities that are either pass-through certificates or CMOs. We expect that the agency securities will be treated either as interests in grantor trusts or as interests in REMICs for federal income tax purposes. In the case of an agency securities treated as interests in grantor trusts, we would be treated as owning an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the mortgage loans held by the grantor trust. Such mortgage loans will generally qualify as real estate assets to the extent that they are secured by real property. We expect that substantially all of our agency securities treated as interests in grantor trust will qualify as real estate assets. In the case of agency securities treated as interests in a REMIC, such interests will generally qualify as real estate assets and income derived from REMIC interests will generally be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the REIT income tests described above. 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 and income derived from the interest will qualify for purposes of the REIT asset and income tests.

To the extent that we hold mortgage participations or mortgage-backed securities that do not represent REMIC interests, such assets may not qualify as real estate assets, and the income generated from them might not qualify for purposes of either or both of the REIT income requirements, depending upon the circumstances and the specific structure of the investment. Our ability to invest in those assets may be limited by our intention to qualify as a REIT.

We enter into sale and repurchase agreements under which we nominally sell certain of our investments 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. We believe that we will generally be treated for REIT asset and income test purposes as the owner of the collateral that is 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 such collateral during the term of the sale and repurchase agreement, in which case we could fail to qualify as a REIT.

We purchase and sell agency securities through TBAs and may continue to do so in the future. While 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, we treat our TBAs as qualifying assets for purposes of the REIT asset tests, based on an opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP substantially to the effect that, for purposes of the REIT asset tests, our ownership of a TBA should be treated as ownership of the underlying agency securities. Opinions of counsel are not binding on the IRS, and no assurance can be given that the IRS will not successfully challenge the conclusions set forth in such opinions. In addition, as noted above, the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is based on various assumptions relating to our TBAs and is conditioned upon fact-based representations and covenants made by our management regarding our TBAs. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert that such assets are not qualifying assets. If the IRS were to successfully challenge the opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, we could be subject to a penalty tax or we could fail to qualify as a REIT if a sufficient portion of our assets consists of TBAs.

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 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 corporate tax rate (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 below.

Annual Distribution Requirements

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

(a) the sum of:

(1) 90% of our “REIT taxable income,” computed without regard to our net capital gains and the deduction for dividends paid, and

(2) 90% of our net income, if any, (after tax) from foreclosure property (as described below), minus

(b) the sum of specified items of non-cash income.

We generally must make these distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if declared before we timely file our tax return for the year and if paid with or before the first regular dividend payment after such declaration. In order for distributions to be counted as satisfying the annual distribution requirements for REITs, and to provide us with a tax deduction for us, 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 our “REIT taxable income,” as adjusted, we will be subject to tax at ordinary corporate 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 for their share of the tax that we paid. Our stockholders would then increase their adjusted basis of their stock by the difference between (a) the amounts of capital gain dividends that we designated and that they include in their taxable income, minus (b) 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 Domestic Stockholders—Distributions.”

If we should fail to distribute during each calendar year at least the sum of (a) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for such year, (b) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for such year, and (c) any undistributed taxable income from prior periods, we would be subject to a non-deductible 4% excise tax on the excess of such required distribution over the sum of (x) the amounts actually distributed, plus (y) the amounts of income we retained and on which we have paid corporate income tax.

It is possible that, from time to time, we may not have sufficient cash to meet the distribution requirements due to timing differences between (a) our actual receipt of cash, including receipt of distributions from any subsidiaries, and (b) our inclusion of items in income for federal income tax purposes. Other potential sources of non-cash taxable income include:


•	loans or mortgage-backed securities held as assets that are issued at a discount and require the accrual of taxable economic interest in advance of receipt in cash; and


•	loans on which the borrower is permitted to defer cash payments of interest, and distressed loans on which we may be required to accrue taxable interest income even though the borrower is unable to make current servicing payments in cash.

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, or to pay dividends in the form of taxable in-kind distributions of property. Alternatively, we may declare a taxable distribution payable in cash or stock at the election of each stockholder, where the aggregate amount of cash to be distributed in such distribution may be subject to limitation. In such case, for federal income tax purposes, the amount of the distribution paid in stock will be equal to the amount of cash that could have been received instead of stock.

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.

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 primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business by us 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 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 “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 for sale to customers, or that we can comply with certain safe-harbor provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that would prevent such treatment. 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 corporate rates. We intend to continue 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 in 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 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 agency securities, we do not anticipate receiving any income from foreclosure property that does not qualify for purposes of the 75% gross income test.

Derivatives and Hedging Transactions

We and our subsidiaries may 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, short sales of TBAs and options. Except to the extent provided by Treasury 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 or price 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 Treasury regulations before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into, and satisfies other identification requirements, 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% gross income tests (or any asset that produces such income), 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. We may conduct some or all of our hedging activities (including hedging activities relating to currency risk) through our TRS or other corporate entity, the income from which may be subject to federal income tax, rather than by participating in the arrangements directly or through pass-through subsidiaries. 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.

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 qualify 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 and accumulated earnings and profits, distributions to most domestic stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates will generally be taxable at capital gains rates. In addition, subject to the limitations of the Internal Revenue Code, corporate distributees 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 Domestic Stockholders

Distributions. So long as we qualify as a REIT, the distributions that we make to our taxable domestic 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. With limited exceptions, our dividends are not eligible for taxation at the preferential income tax rates for qualified dividends received by most domestic 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 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 stockholder that receives such distribution has held its stock. 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 stockholders as having received, solely for tax purposes, our undistributed capital gains, and the stockholders will receive a corresponding credit for taxes that we paid on such undistributed capital gains. See “—Taxation of American Capital Agency Corp.—Annual Distribution Requirements.” Corporate 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 reduced maximum federal rates in the case of stockholders that are individuals, trusts and estates, and ordinary income rates in the case of stockholders that are corporations. Capital gains attributable to the sale of depreciable real property held for more than 12 months are subject to a 25% maximum federal income tax rate for taxpayers who are taxed as individuals, to the extent of previously claimed depreciation deductions.

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 stockholder to the extent that the amount of such distributions does not exceed the adjusted basis of the stockholder's shares in respect of which the distributions were made. Rather, the distribution will reduce the adjusted basis of the stockholder's shares. To the extent that such distributions exceed the adjusted basis of a stockholder's shares, the 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 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 our preferred stock, and then to our common stock. In addition, any dividend that we declare in October, November or December of any year and that is payable to a stockholder of record on a specified date in any such month will be treated as both paid by us and received by the 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 American Capital Agency Corp.—Annual Distribution Requirements.” Such losses, however, are not passed through to stockholders and do not offset income of 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 stockholders to the extent that we have current or accumulated earnings and profits.

Dispositions of American Capital Agency Corp. Stock. In general, capital gains recognized by individuals, trusts and estates upon the sale or disposition of our stock will be subject to a reduced maximum federal income tax rate if the stock is held for more than one year, and will be taxed at ordinary income rates if the stock is held for one year or less. Gains recognized by stockholders that are corporations are subject to federal income tax at ordinary income rates, whether or not such gains are classified as long-term capital gains. Capital losses recognized by a 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 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 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 stockholder as long-term capital gain.

If an investor recognizes a loss upon a subsequent disposition of our stock or other securities in an amount that exceeds a prescribed threshold, it is possible that the provisions of Treasury 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 or securities or transactions that we might undertake directly or indirectly. 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 disclosure or other 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 domestic stockholder of our stock will not be treated as passive activity income. As a result, 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.

Medicare Tax. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, certain U.S. holders who are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds will be required to pay a 3.8% Medicare tax on dividend and other income, including capital gains from the sale or other disposition of our common stock.

Taxation of Foreign 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. holders. A “non-U.S. holder” is any person other than:


•	a citizen or resident of the United States;


•	a corporation (or 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 a United States court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more United States fiduciaries have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

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

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.

In General. For most foreign investors, investment in a REIT that invests principally in mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities is not the most tax-efficient way to invest in such assets. That is because receiving distributions of income derived from such assets in the form of REIT dividends subjects most foreign investors to withholding taxes that direct investment in those asset classes, and the direct receipt of interest and principal payments with respect to them, would not. The principal exceptions are foreign sovereigns and their agencies and instrumentalities, which may be exempt from withholding taxes on REIT dividends under the Internal Revenue Code, and certain foreign pension funds or similar entities able to claim an exemption from withholding taxes on REIT dividends under the terms of a bilateral tax treaty between their country of residence and the United States.

Ordinary Dividends. The portion of dividends received by non-U.S. holders that is (1) payable out of our earnings and profits, (2) not attributable to our capital gains and (3) not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. holder, will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30%, unless reduced or eliminated by treaty.

In general, non-U.S. holders 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. holder's investment in our stock is, or is treated as, effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder's conduct of a U.S. trade or business, the non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates, in the same manner as domestic stockholders are taxed with respect to such dividends. Such income must generally be reported on a U.S. income tax return filed by or on behalf of the non-U.S. holder. The income may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax in the case of a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation.

Non-Dividend Distributions. Unless our stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest (a “USRPI”), distributions that we make which are not dividends out of our earnings and profits will not be subject to U.S. income tax. If we cannot determine at the time a distribution is made whether or not the distribution will exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits, the distribution will be subject to withholding at the rate applicable to dividends. The non-U.S. holder 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 (a) the stockholder's proportionate share of our earnings and profits, plus (b) the stockholder's basis in its stock, will be taxed under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 (“FIRPTA”), at the rate of tax, including any applicable capital gains rates, that would apply to a domestic 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 refundable withholding tax 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. holder, 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. holder and will be subject to U.S. income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. individuals or corporations, without regard to whether we designate the distribution as a capital gain dividend. See above under “—Taxation of Foreign 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. holder that is a corporation. A distribution is not a USRPI capital gain if we held an interest in the underlying asset solely as a creditor. Capital gain dividends received by a non-U.S. holder 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. holder's U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. holder would be subject to the same treatment as U.S. holders with respect to

such gain, or (2) the non-U.S. holder 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. holder will incur a 30% tax on his capital gains.

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 Foreign 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. holder does not own more than 5% of that class of stock at any time during the year ending on the date on which the capital gain dividend is received. We anticipate that our common stock will continue to be “regularly traded” on an established securities market.

Dispositions of American Capital Agency Corp. Stock. Unless our stock constitutes a USRPI, a sale of our stock by a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. taxation under FIRPTA. Our stock will not be treated as a USRPI if less than 50% 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. It is not currently anticipated that our stock will constitute a USRPI. However, we cannot assure you that our stock will not become a USRPI.

Even if the foregoing 50% test is not met, our stock nonetheless will not constitute a USRPI if we are a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity.” A domestically controlled qualified investment entity includes a REIT, less than 50% of value of which is held directly or indirectly by non-U.S. holders at all times during a specified testing period. We believe that we are, and we will be, a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, and that a sale of our stock should not be subject to taxation under FIRPTA. However, no assurance can be given that we are or will remain a domestically controlled qualified investment entity.

In the event that we are not a domestically controlled qualified investment entity, but our stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury regulations, on an established securities market, a non-U.S. holder's sale of our common stock nonetheless would not be subject to tax under FIRPTA as a sale of a USRPI, provided that the selling non-U.S. holder held 5% or less of our outstanding common stock at all times during the five-year period ending on the date of the sale. We expect that our common stock will continue to be 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. holder would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return and would be subject to the same treatment as a domestic 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. holder in two cases: (1) if the non-U.S. holder's investment in our stock is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by such non-U.S. holder, the non-U.S. holder will be subject to the same treatment as a domestic stockholder with respect to such gain, or (2) if the non-U.S. holder 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. holder may be treated as having gain from the sale or exchange of a USRPI if the non-U.S. holder (1) disposes of our common 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 common stock within 30 days after such ex-dividend date.

Other Withholding Rules. Legislation enacted in 2010 and existing guidance issued thereunder will require, after December 31, 2013, withholding at a rate of 30% on dividends in respect of, and, after December 31, 2016, gross proceeds from the sale of, our common stock held by or through certain foreign financial institutions (including investment funds), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Treasury to report, on an annual basis, information with respect to shares in, or accounts maintained by, the institution to the extent such shares or accounts are 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. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, or future Treasury regulations or other guidance, may modify these requirements. Accordingly, the entity through which our common stock is held will affect the determination of whether such withholding is required. Similarly, after December 31, 2013, dividends in respect of, and after December 31, 2016, gross proceeds from the sale of, our common stock held by an investor that is a non-financial non-U.S.

entity that does not qualify under certain exemptions will 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 Treasury. We will not pay any additional amounts to stockholders in respect of any amounts withheld. Non-U.S. holders are encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of the legislation on their investment in our common stock.

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, the 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.

Taxation of Tax-Exempt Stockholders

Tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit sharing trusts and individual retirement accounts, generally are exempt from federal income taxation. However, they may be subject to taxation on their unrelated business taxable income (“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 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 stockholder), and (2) our stock is not otherwise used in an unrelated trade or business, distributions that we make and income from the sale of our stock generally should not give rise to UBTI to a tax-exempt stockholder.

Tax-exempt stockholders that are social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services plans exempt from 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.

In certain circumstances, a pension trust that owns more than 10% of our stock could be required to treat a percentage of the dividends 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 (i) one pension trust owns more than 25% of the value of our stock, or (ii) 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 stockholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of owning American Capital Agency Corp. stock.

Other Tax Considerations

Legislative or Other Actions Affecting REITs

The present 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 federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect an investment in our common stock.

State, Local and Foreign Taxes

We and our subsidiaries and stockholders may be subject to state, local or foreign taxation in various jurisdictions including those in which we or they transact business, own property or reside. We may own properties located in numerous jurisdictions, and may be required to file tax returns in some or all of those jurisdictions. Our state, local or foreign tax treatment and that of our stockholders may not conform to the federal income tax treatment discussed above. We may pay foreign property taxes, and dispositions of foreign property or operations involving, or investments in, foreign property may give rise to foreign income or other tax liability in amounts that could be substantial. Any foreign 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 foreign income and other tax laws on an investment in our stock.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The Plan allows for shares to be purchased and dividends to be reinvested into shares acquired by the Plan Administrator either on the market or through receipt of newly issued or treasury shares of common stock from us. If the shares are purchased on the market, subject to our discretion we will pay the administrative expenses connected with the operation of the Plan, except for brokerage commissions. Brokerage commissions shall be borne pro rata by the Plan participants.

In connection with the administration of the Plan, we may be requested to approve investments made pursuant to Requests for Waivers by or on behalf of participants or other investors who may be engaged in the securities business. Persons who acquire shares of our common stock through the Plan and resell them shortly after acquiring them, including coverage of short positions, under certain circumstances, may be participating in a distribution of securities that would require compliance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and may be considered to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. We will not extend to any such person any rights or privileges other than those to which they would be entitled as a participant, nor will we enter into any agreement with any such person regarding the resale or distribution by any such person of the shares of our common stock so purchased.

Our common stock may not be available under the Plan in all states or jurisdictions. We are not making an offer to sell our common stock in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, New York, N.Y.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of American Capital Agency Corp. incorporated by reference in American Capital Agency Corp.'s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2012, and the effectiveness of American Capital Agency Corp.'s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports or other information that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. You may also receive copies of these documents upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Room. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. Our SEC filings are also available to you, free of charge, on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain additional information by visiting our website at http://www.AGNC.com. The information found on, or otherwise accessible through, our website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of this prospectus or any other report or document we file with or furnish to the SEC.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

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 in this prospectus. We have filed the documents listed below with the SEC (File No. 001-34057) under the Exchange Act and these documents are incorporated herein by reference:


•	our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed on February 27, 2013;


•	our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2013 filed on May 9, 2013;


•	our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on February 8, 2013, March 5, 2013 and May 3, 2013;


•	the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on March 20, 2013; and


•	the description of our common stock set forth in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed on May 9, 2008, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents that we file (but not those that we furnish) with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus and any previously filed document. In addition, all documents that we file (but not those that we furnish) with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of shares hereby will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus and any previously filed document.

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 in 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 American Capital Agency Corp., 2 Bethesda Metro Center, 14th Floor, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, telephone number (301) 968-9300.

Amended and Restated Dividend Reinvestment

and

Direct Stock Purchase Plan

21,740,000 Shares

Common Stock

__________________________________________________

P R O S P E C T U S

__________________________________________________

Dated: May 17, 2013

PART II .

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS



Item 14.	Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses expected to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the shares of common stock of American Capital Agency Corp. (the “Registrant”) being registered, all of which are being borne by the Registrant.



SEC registration fee	$	66,500
Printing and engraving expenses	5,000
Legal fees and expenses	10,000
Accounting fees and expenses	20,000
Miscellaneous	500
Total	$	102,000



Item 15.	Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law allows a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of a director of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock purchase or redemption in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, among other things, that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the corporation’s request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the action, suit or proceeding. The power to indemnify applies (i) if such person is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding or (ii) if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The power to indemnify applies to actions brought by or in the right of the corporation as well, but only to the extent of defense expenses (including attorneys’ fees but excluding amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnified person and not to any satisfaction of judgment or settlement of the claim itself, and with the further limitation that in such actions no indemnification shall be made in the event such person is adjudged liable to the corporation unless a court believes that in light of all the circumstances indemnification should apply.

Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides, among other things, that a director who willfully and negligently approves of an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption may be held liable for such actions. A director who was either absent when the unlawful actions were approved or dissented at the time may avoid liability by causing his dissent to such actions to be entered in the books containing the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors at the time the action occurred or immediately after the absent director receives notice of the unlawful acts.

Article Seventh of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our directors shall not be personally liable to us and our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of certain fiduciary duties as a director, except for liability to the extent such director has committed willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of such director’s duties involved in the conduct of the office of director. Our Charter and Bylaws provide that we may indemnify any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of us to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. The indemnification provisions contained in our Charter and Bylaws are not exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be entitled by law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.



Item 16.	Financial Statements and Exhibits

The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement, which are incorporated herein:



Exhibit		Description
*3.1		American Capital Agency Corp. Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 (File No. 001-34057), filed May 9, 2012.

*3.2		American Capital Agency Corp. Second Amended and Restated By-laws, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (File No. 001-34057), filed February 23, 2012.

*4.1		Instruments defining the rights of holders of securities: See Article IV of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 (File No. 001-34057), filed May 9, 2012.

*4.2		Instruments defining the rights of holders of securities: See Article VI of our Second Amended and Restated By-laws, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (File No. 001-34057), filed February 23, 2012.

*4.3		Form of Certificate for Common Stock, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11 (Registration No. 333-149167), filed May 9, 2008.

5.1		Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP relating to the legality of the securities being registered, dated May 17, 2013.

8.1		Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP regarding tax matters, dated May 17, 2013.

23.1		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.2		Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

23.3		Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1).

24.1		Powers of Attorney.

_________________



*	Previously filed.



Item 17.	Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(i) each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of the registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of a Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bethesda, State of Maryland, on May 17, 2013.



	AMERICAN CAPITAL AGENCY CORP.

By:	/s/ Samuel A. Flax
Name:	Samuel A. Flax
Title:	Executive Vice President and Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.




Signature		Title	Date

*	Chair and Chief Executive Officer		May 17, 2013
Malon Wilkus		(Principal Executive Officer)
*	Director, Chief Financial Officer and		May 17, 2013
John R. Erickson		Executive Vice President (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)
*	Director		May 17, 2013
Robert M. Couch
*	Director		May 17, 2013
Morris A. Davis
*	Director		May 17, 2013
Randy E. Dobbs
/s/ Samuel A. Flax	Director		May 17, 2013
Samuel A. Flax
*	Director		May 17, 2013
Larry K. Harvey
*	Director		May 17, 2013
Prue B. Larocca
*	Director		May 17, 2013
Alvin N. Puryear




* By:		/s/ Samuel A. Flax
		Attorney-in-fact

EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit		Description
*3.1		American Capital Agency Corp. Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 (File No. 001-34057), filed May 9, 2012.

*3.2		American Capital Agency Corp. Second Amended and Restated By-laws, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (File No. 001-34057), filed February 23, 2012.

*4.1		Instruments defining the rights of holders of securities: See Article IV of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 (File No. 001-34057), filed May 9, 2012.

*4.2		Instruments defining the rights of holders of securities: See Article VI of our Second Amended and Restated By-laws, as amended, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (File No. 001-34057), filed February 23, 2012.

*4.3		Form of Certificate for Common Stock, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-11 (Registration No. 333-149167), filed May 9, 2008.

5.1		Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP relating to the legality of the securities being registered, dated May 17, 2013.

8.1		Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP regarding tax matters, dated May 17, 2013.

23.1		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.2		Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

23.3		Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1).

24.1		Powers of Attorney.

_________________



*	Previously filed.