Harold E. Schwartz - 07 Jan 2025 Form 4 Insider Report for MFA FINANCIAL, INC. (MFA)

Footnote F1

Shares acquired pursuant to the settlement of time-based restricted stock units ("TRSUs") (i.e., phantom stock) granted to the Reporting Person in January 2022.

Footnote F2

Each phantom share is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock of MFA Financial, Inc. Each phantom share was or will be settled in one share of common stock of MFA Financial, Inc.

Footnote F3

Reflects shares to be acquired in connection with the vesting of performance-based restricted stock units ("PRSUs") (i.e., phantom stock) granted to the Reporting Person in January 2022 as discussed in Notes 7, 8 and 9 below. The number of shares reported also includes 2,925 additional PRSUs representing the value of the dividend equivalents that accrued during the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2024, in respect of the underlying PRSUs that vested. Per the terms and conditions of the PRSU awards, the vested PRSUs and the additional PRSUs in respect of dividend equivalents will settle in January 2026 in the form of one share of common stock of MFA Financial, Inc. for each PRSU.

Footnote F4

The reported disposition represents the surrender of shares to satisfy tax obligations arising from the settlement of phantom shares described in Notes 1 and 6.

Footnote F5

The reported disposition represents the surrender of shares to satisfy tax obligations arising from the settlement of previously vested phantom shares.

Footnote F6

The reported disposition reflects the settlement of TRSUs (i.e., phantom stock) granted to the Reporting Person in January 2022. Each phantom share is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock of MFA Financial, Inc. Each phantom share was settled in one share of common stock of MFA Financial, Inc.

Footnote F7

The reported disposition reflects the vesting of PRSUs (i.e., phantom stock) granted to the Reporting Person in January 2022. Each phantom share is the economic equivalent of one share of common stock of MFA Financial, Inc.

Footnote F8

The number of PRSUs reported in Table II represents the "target" number of PRSUs that were granted to the reporting person in January 2022. Per the terms of the award agreement governing the PRSUs, the number of underlying shares of MFA common stock that the recipient ultimately became entitled to receive at the time of vesting ranged from 0% to 200% of the target number of PRSUs granted, subject to the achievement of a pre-established performance metric. The vesting of these PRSUs was based on MFA's total stockholder return for the three years ended December 31, 2024.

Footnote F9

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of MFA has confirmed and certified the vesting level of the PRSUs as reflected in Table I. Per the terms of the award agreement governing the PRSUs, the number of PRSUs that vested was adjusted to reflect the value of any dividends paid on MFA's common stock during the performance period in respect of the number of underlying PRSUs that ultimately vested (see Note 3). Per the terms and conditions of the PRSU awards, the vested PRSUs will settle in the form of one share of common stock of MFA Financial, Inc. for each vested phantom share in January 2026.